Hvac equipment screening systems

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a rooftop HVAC assembly including HVAC equipment and a screening system. In the present embodiments, the HVAC equipment is mounted operably on a roof of a building and the screening system is assembled operatively so as to surround the HVAC equipment. The screening system includes a screen panel that is adjustable between a lower, closed position and an upper, open position, e.g., by moving at least part of the screen panel selectively upwardly or downwardly. Further, some embodiments provide a screening system for a rooftop HVAC assembly comprising HVAC equipment and the screening system. In the present embodiments, the screening system is configured to be operatively assembled so as to surround the HVAC equipment when mounted operably on a roof of a building.

1 . A rooftop HVAC assembly comprising HVAC equipment and a screening system, the HVAC equipment being mounted operably on a roof of a building, the screening system being assembled operatively so as to surround the HVAC equipment, the HVAC equipment having a length and a width, the screening system including two length walls and two width walls, the two length walls extending alongside the length of the HVAC equipment, the two width walls extending alongside the width of the HVAC equipment, the screening system including: (i) one or more adjustable-length beams extending from the HVAC equipment to a first of the two length walls, and (ii) one or more adjustable-length beams extending from the HVAC equipment to a first of the two width walls. 
     
     
         2 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable-length beams are tubes configured to telescope to provide length adjustability. 
     
     
         3 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 1  wherein all adjustable-length beams of the screening system are at the same elevation as the HVAC equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one or more adjustable-length beams extending from the HVAC equipment to the first of the two length walls comprise at least one diagonal adjustable-length beam extending diagonally from the HVAC equipment to the first of the two length walls, and the one or more adjustable-length beams extending from the HVAC equipment to a first of the two width walls comprise at least one diagonal adjustable-length beam extending diagonally from the HVAC equipment to the first of the two width walls. 
     
     
         5 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 4  wherein the one or more adjustable-length beams extending from the HVAC equipment to the first of the two length walls further comprise: (a) an upper adjustable-length beam extending from the HVAC equipment to the first of the two length walls, and (b) a lower adjustable-length beam extending from the HVAC equipment to the first of the two length walls, the upper adjustable-length beam being at a higher elevation than the lower adjustable-length beam. 
     
     
         6 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 1  wherein the screening system further includes at least one adjustable-length beam extending from the HVAC equipment to a corner, the corner being at an intersection of the first of the two length walls and the first of the two width walls. 
     
     
         7 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 1  wherein the screening system further includes at least one diagonal adjustable-length beam extending diagonally from the HVAC equipment to a corner, the corner being at an intersection of the first of the two length walls and the first of the two width walls. 
     
     
         8 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 7  wherein the screening system further includes: (a) an upper adjustable-length beam extending from the HVAC equipment to the corner, and (b) a lower adjustable-length beam extending from the HVAC equipment to the corner, the upper adjustable-length beam being at a higher elevation than the lower adjustable-length beam. 
     
     
         9 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 1  wherein the screening system includes a screen panel that is adjustable between a lower, closed position and an upper, open position by moving at least part of the screen panel along an upright track. 
     
     
         10 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 9  wherein the screen panel comprises a fabric screen. 
     
     
         11 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 10  wherein the screening system is configured such that the fabric screen is retained in a taut position when the screen panel is in the lower, closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 11  wherein the screening system is configured such that the fabric screen is folded over itself when the screen panel is in the upper, open position. 
     
     
         13 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 10  wherein the fabric screen has an upper end and a lower end, and the screen panel further comprises a base rail attached to the lower end of the fabric screen. 
     
     
         14 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 13  wherein the screen panel is adjustable between the lower, closed position and the upper, open position by sliding the base rail of the screen panel along the upright track. 
     
     
         15 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 14  wherein the screening system comprises a framework that includes a top rail, and the upper end of the fabric screen is attached to the top rail of the framework. 
     
     
         16 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 15  wherein the screening system is configured such that, when the screen panel is in the upper, open position, the base rail of the screen panel is retained alongside the top rail of the framework, thereby creating an open doorway through which a worker can access the HVAC equipment. 
     
     
         17 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 1  wherein the screening system comprises a framework that is devoid of structural frame members extending over and above the HVAC equipment. 
     
     
         18 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 1  wherein the screening system is devoid of footings resting on the roof of the building. 
     
     
         19 . The rooftop HVAC assembly of  claim 1  wherein the screening system does not contact the roof of the building.