US2019154294A1PendingUtilityA1

Method of Installing Sealed Circular Ductwork

57
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 5, 2006Filed: Jan 28, 2019Published: May 23, 2019
Est. expiryMay 5, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Douglas G. GudenburrVincent L. Bloom
Y10T29/49817Y10S285/915Y10T29/49885B21D 39/023F24F 13/0209Y10T29/4998Y10T29/4987F16L 25/10Y10T29/49826F16L 25/0081Y10T29/49879B21C 37/101
57
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A circular sheet metal duct having a sealant applied across the longitudinal seam. The sealant will improve the efficiency and will reduce or eliminate air leakage from the longitudinal seam. The sealant is applied during the manufacturing processes so that an installer does not have to seal the duct work. The method of manufacturing the sealant is provided.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a sealed circular cross-section duct comprising:
 a) providing an unassembled circular sheet metal duct having a self locking longitudinal seam with a reusable liquid applied sealant positioned within the longitudinal seam while the seam is being formed; and   b) thereafter engaging the longitudinal seam and thereby simultaneously locking the seam to form the circular sheet metal duct and sealing the longitudinal seam without an installer applying sealant.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sealant has physical properties such that it provides a reusable seal so that the self locking longitudinal seam can be engaged, disengaged and reengaged. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the self locking longitudinal seam contains a button lock. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the self locking longitudinal seam contains a reeves lock. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the metal duct is capable of a pipe pressure of at least ¼″ water column to 10″ water column without the seal failing. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sealant does not give off any volatile organic compound. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein there is no off gassing from the sealant during installation or system operation. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein an exterior surface of the duct does not have sealant. 
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sealant is encapsulated by the sheet metal so that it is not exposed and does not come into contact with an airstream. 
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sealant does not blow out under pressure or drip out under heat below a temperature of 220° F. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the self locking longitudinal seam can be engaged and reengaged and then the exterior painted without having to remove excess sealant. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sealant gives a together fit with the seal locking longitudinal seam so that vibrations are reduced. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the multiple sheet metal ducts are provided and are stacked in a bundle. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 1  which permits:
 a) disengaging the longitudinal seam; 
 b) cutting the circular sheet metal duct to the appropriates dimension; and 
 c) reengaging the longitudinal seam and simultaneously resealing the longitudinal seam of the circular duct without an installer using sealant. 
 
     
     
         15 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 2 . 
     
     
         17 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 3 . 
     
     
         18 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 4 . 
     
     
         19 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 5 . 
     
     
         20 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 6 . 
     
     
         21 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 7 . 
     
     
         22 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 8 . 
     
     
         23 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 9 . 
     
     
         24 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 10 . 
     
     
         25 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 11 . 
     
     
         26 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 12 . 
     
     
         27 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 13 . 
     
     
         28 . A sealed circular cross-section duct formed by the method recited in  claim 14 . 
     
     
         29 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct comprising:
 a) an unassembled circular sheet metal duct having a self locking longitudinal seam with a reusable liquid applied sealant positioned within the longitudinal seam while the seam is being formed; and   b) thereafter causing the longitudinal seam to be engaged and thereby simultaneously locking the seam to form the circular sheet metal duct and sealing the longitudinal seam without an installer applying a sealant.   
     
     
         30 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein the sealant has physical properties such that it provides a reusable seal so that the self locking longitudinal seam can be engaged, disengaged and reengaged. 
     
     
         31 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein the self locking longitudinal seam contains a button lock. 
     
     
         32 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein the self locking longitudinal seam contains a reeves lock. 
     
     
         33 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein the metal duct is capable of a pipe pressure of at least ¼″ water column to 10″ water column without the seal failing. 
     
     
         34 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein the sealant does not give off any volatile organic compound. 
     
     
         35 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein there is no off gassing from the sealant during installation or system operation. 
     
     
         36 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein an exterior surface of the duct does not have sealant. 
     
     
         37 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein the sealant is encapsulated by the sheet metal so that it is not exposed and does not come into contact with an airstream. 
     
     
         38 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein the sealant does not blow out under pressure or drip out under heat below a temperature of 220° F. 
     
     
         39 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein the self locking longitudinal seam can be engaged and reengaged and then the exterior painted without having to remove excess sealant. 
     
     
         40 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein the sealant gives a tighter fit with the self locking longitudinal seam so that vibrations are reduced. 
     
     
         41 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  wherein unassembled multiple sheet metal ducts are provided and are stacked in a bundle. 
     
     
         42 . A self-sealing circular cross-section sheet metal duct as recited in  claim 29  which permits:
 a) disengaging the longitudinal seam; 
 b) cutting the circular sheet metal duct to the appropriate dimension; and 
 c) reengaging the longitudinal seam and simultaneously resealing the longitudinal seam of the circular duct without an installer applying sealant.

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