초록 ▼

A heater assembly includes a heating element assembly having a resistive heating element connected to a housing member. First and second guide members are oppositely and outwardly positioned with respect to the heating element assembly and extend away from the housing member. A patch plate includes

A heater assembly includes a heating element assembly having a resistive heating element connected to a housing member. First and second guide members are oppositely and outwardly positioned with respect to the heating element assembly and extend away from the housing member. A patch plate includes an installation aperture and first and second wings extending away from the patch plate. The first and second guide members are positioned to individually slidingly engage with one of the first and second wings thereby defining a track system to permit the heating element assembly to be slidingly received through the installation aperture without contact between the resistive heating element and the patch plate.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A heater assembly, comprising: a heating element assembly comprising at least one guide member cantileverly extending rearwardly from a housing member, and a resistive heating element supported by the at least one guide member; anda patch plate for supporting the heating element assembly and for

1. A heater assembly, comprising: a heating element assembly comprising at least one guide member cantileverly extending rearwardly from a housing member, and a resistive heating element supported by the at least one guide member; anda patch plate for supporting the heating element assembly and for mounting the heating element assembly to an air handler, the patch plate having an installation aperture and at least one wing integrally formed as a part of the patch plate and cantileverly extending rearwardly from the patch plate, the at least one wing slidingly engaged with the at least one guide member,wherein the heating element assembly is slidingly and removably received through the installation aperture without contact between the resistive heating element and the patch plate. 2. The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide member comprises first and second guide members oppositely and outwardly positioned with respect to the heating element assembly. 3. The heater assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one wing comprises first and second wings extending perpendicular to the patch plate and parallel to the first and second guide members, the first and second guide members individually positioned to slidingly engage with one of the first and second guide members. 4. The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide member includes a longitudinal wall having first and second guide flanges extending therefrom, wherein the at least one wing is slidingly captured between the first and second guide flanges and the longitudinal wall permitting only a sliding motion of the at least one guide member with respect to the at least one wing. 5. The heater assembly of claim 4, wherein the first and second guide flanges are directed toward each other and are each oriented at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal wall. 6. The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide member includes first and second substantially parallel guide members each including a longitudinal wall connected to the housing member and an end wall angularly oriented with respect to the longitudinal wall, the end wall positioned proximate to a free end of the heating element assembly. 7. The heater assembly of claim 6, further including first and second support rods each connected to the housing member and freely extending through an aperture created in one of the end walls of the first and second guide members, the first and second support rods supporting the resistive heating element. 8. The heater assembly of claim 6, further including: first and second guide flanges extending from the end wall of each of the first and second guide members; anda connecting end wall slidably received by the first and second guide flanges of the first and second guide members. 9. The heater assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one guide member includes first and second substantially parallel guide members having an end wall oriented perpendicular to the first and second guide members defining a continuous extension of the first and second one guide members. 10. A heater assembly, comprising: a heating element assembly comprising a resistive heating element, and first and second guide members cantileverly extending rearwardly from a housing member, the first and second guide members positioned on opposite sides of and supporting the resistive heating element; anda patch plate for supporting the heating element assembly and for mounting the heating element assembly to an air handler, the patch plate having an installation aperture and fixed first and second wings cantileverly extending rearwardly from the patch plate, each of the first and second wings engaged with and supporting a respective one of the first and second guide members,wherein the heating element assembly is slidingly and removably received through the installation aperture via the engaged first and second wings and the first and second guide members without contact between the resistive heating element and the patch plate. 11. The heater assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second guide members include a longitudinal wall having first and second guide flanges extending therefrom wherein one of the first and second wings is slidingly captured between the first and second guide flanges and the longitudinal wall permitting only a sliding motion of the first and second guide members in an installation direction with respect to individual ones of the first or second wings. 12. The heater assembly of claim 11, wherein the first and second guide flanges are each oriented at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal wall each defining a capture zone to slidably receive the first or second wing and prevent the first or second wing from moving in an outward displacement direction perpendicular to the installation direction. 13. The heater assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second guide members each include a longitudinal wall connected to the housing member and an end wall angularly oriented with respect to the longitudinal wall, the end wall positioned proximate to a free end of the heating element assembly, the end wall of the first guide member oriented co-planar with and facing the end wall of the second guide member. 14. The heater assembly of claim 13, further including first and second support rods each connected to the housing member and individually freely extending through an aperture created in the end wall of one of the first or second guide members, the first and second support rods supporting the resistive heating element. 15. The heater assembly of claim 13, wherein the end wall further includes a planar wall portion having guide flanges extending therefrom, the guide flanges oriented at an acute angle with respect to the planar wall portion. 16. The heater assembly of claim 13, further including a connecting plate slidingly received between the guide flanges of the end wall of both the first and second guide members. 17. The heater assembly of claim 10, wherein the heating element assembly further includes a plurality of transverse support rods oriented perpendicular to the first and second guide members, and a plurality of spacer members positioned on the transverse support rods and connected to the resistive heating element, the transverse support rods positioned between and contacting the first and second guide members to minimize motion of the resistive heating element between the first and second guide members. 18. The heater assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second wings integrally connect to an extending portion extending from an edge wall defined by the installation aperture, and each of the first and second wings include wing extension portions extending above and below the extending portion. 19. The heater assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second wings includes a plurality of axially aligned apertures separating a plurality of lands together defining a bend location permitting the first and second wings to be oriented perpendicular to the patch plate. 20. The heater assembly of claim 10, wherein the resistive heating element comprises at least one coil and the heating element assembly defines an open coil assembly. 21. The heater assembly of claim 10, wherein a width of the second wing is different than a width of the first wing such that the second guide member can only receive the second wing and the first guide member can only receive the first wing, the heating element assembly thereby limited to insertion into the installation aperture in only one orientation.