AU649464B2 - Air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

Regulalion 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

649464 eBes

S.

5' 0 0e 4.

0

OOSO

S@ 0* a.

S.

S S 5* 0 @0 50

S

*5*S *0 5* 0

SS

4 S a.

Name of Applicant: INC203LNE AAUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.

Actual Inventor(s): PAUL RUTTEN

SC.

Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 4 O' 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Invention Title: AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Details of Associated Provisional Ap.plication(s): No(s): PKI878/90 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 0.be 1- -2- AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM This invention relates to an air conditioning system.

Air conditioning systems constructed in accordance with the invention may be arranged whereby to permit simple coupling to warm air and cold air circulating systems forming part of the air conditioning system. Furthermore, air conditioning systems constructed in accordance with the invention may make provision for increased capacity of cold airflow when required.

The invention generally concerns an air conditioning system comprising first and second ducts, means for causing airflow through the ducts and arranged to enable S..air at differing temperatures to be passed through the respective ducts. For example, 15 the system may include heating means for heating air which flows through the first duct and cooling means for cooling air which flows through the second duct.

*V According to this invention there is provided an air conditioning system comprising first and second ducts, means for causing airflow through the ducts and 20 arranged to enable air at differing temperatures to be passed through the respective S ducts, wherein means is provided for passing heated air through one said duct, and for selectively passing cooled air through a first of the ducts or through both ducts.

The invention also provides an air conditioning system comprising first and 25 second ducts, means for causing airflow through the ducts and arranged to enable air at differing temperatures to be passed through the respective ducts, wherein means is provided for passing heated air through one said duct, and for selectively passing cooled air through a first of the ducts or through both ducts, wherein the ducts are positioned in a portion of a floor of a building The invention further provides an air conditioning system comprising first and second ducts, means for causing airflow through the ducts and arranged to enable air 910821 kispe.002,inoolne2,2 -3at differing temperatures to be passed through the respective ducts, wherein means is provided for passing heated air through one said duct, and for selectively passing cooled air through a first of the ducts or through both ducts, wherein the ducts communicate with a mixing box which is formed in a raised floor portior, such as a raised floor tile, or installed within a raised floor such as on a slab therewithin.

In one form of the invention, the ducts are disposed one above the othtL The ducts may be formed as parts of a unitary duct structure. A mixing box may be provided having openings therein communicating with the interiors of the respective ducts via respective openings in the ducts, the mixing box having an outlet for outlet of mixed air from the ducts. In a preferred form, the mixing box is demrountably attached to the ducts, most preferably being directly attachable rather than being attached by use of flexible ducting. The mixing box may be provided with flow oregulating means for regulating the relative proportions of air from each of the two S* 15 ducts which in use emerges from the outlet.

e* Preferably, means is provided securing the mixing box to the ducts. Such means may include co-operating elements which are hooked together to enable the mixing box to be hooked to at least one of the ducts.

Preferably, the system includes further air cooi, g means selectively operable to cool air in the first duct, whereby to enable boosting of flow of cooled air from the system.

25 In another aspect, the invention provides ducting structure comprisi g a length of sheet material conformed to define two adjacent ducts, with separate portions of the sheet material defining adjacent wall portions of the respective ducts being disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship. The space between these wall portions may be filled with heat insulating material, and further heat insulating material may be provided around one or both ducts.

,-,In"another ap. ct ;the in',ntion prlovide an air mixing box attaehable direetly- -4to the above described first and second ducts. Such mixing boxmay include and inlet in use separately communicable with the d xcts- E ng box may have damper means for r ow through the mixing box to the outlet. Air may -a ~o be passed from both ducts to the space via the mixing box, In another form, the invention provides a method of air conditioning a space, comprising passing air thereto from a one or both of two ducts, wherein the ducts are positioned one above the other in adjacent disposition and the passing of air to the space from the ducts is effected via a mixing box with an outlet communicating with s: space and with both said ducts.

The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an air conditioning system constructed in 15 accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a diagram showing typical control curves relating to airflow through two ducts provided in the air conditioning system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a typical ducting layout for an air conditioning system constructed in accordance with the invention; 20 Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating how ducts incorporated into the system of •Figure 1 may be constructed; Figure 5 is a cross sectional diagram illustrating the manner of interconnection of a mixing box with ducts in the system of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a mixing box; 25 Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which air quantity may be regulated in accordance with temperature in each of two ducts; Figure 8 is a layout diagram of a typical air conditioning system constructed in accordance with the invention; Figures 9 and 10 are, respectively, cross sectional diagrams of two forms of one piece ducting constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 11 shows a plan view of a raised floor reticulation systems in a raised Sfloor, being a modification of the invention; Figure 12 is an enlarged plan view of an air terminal incorporated into the system of Figure 12; and Figure 13 is a cross-section of the system of Figure 12 showing alternate cold and neutral ducting feeding through flexible twin air terminals integrated in a raised floor.

Figure 1 shows a neutral air handling unit 12 of conventional form including heating means 14 mounted within the casing 16, the casing being open to the atmosphere for inlet of air through an air filter 20. Dampers 21 are provided to regulate air flow through unit 12. There is an outlet opening (not shown). Air is pumped through the filter 20, past the heating means 14, by an air blower 26 to outlet on the path indicated by arrow 24 to enter a neutral air duct 22. A cold air handling unit 30 is also provided of somewhat similar form to the unit 12, this having a casing 32 open for admission of external air therein via an air filter 34 and having a cooling *o 15 means 36 within the casing. Dampers 35 are provided to regulate air flow through the unit 30. A blower 40 is provided to draw air in through the filter 34 and past the cooling means 36 to be exited as indicated at the arrow 42, the exiting air then being passed to a cold air duct 44. By the use of the term "neutral air" it is not meant that the temperature of the air in the relevant duct is necessarily "neutral", merely that it 20 is, in this embodiment capable, of being either heated or cooled.

A return air fan 48 is provided for drawing air from a space to be heated or cooled by the air conditioning system and to return this to one or both the units 16 and 30 or to pass air to a relief line Ducts 22 and 44 communicate with respective further cold air and neutral air ducts 50, 52 respectively. These ducts may be arranged in any desired form, but in the present instance are arranged in endless loops as shown. From these ducts, further neutral air and cold air ducts 54, 56 are taken. These ducts are disposed one above the other and may, for example, be of the form shown in Figure 4, when viewed in cross section. Thus the cold air duct 56 is in this instance shown disposed immediately above the neutral air duct 54, although these positions could be reversed 910821,kxIsp.OM3bn=Ine.2.?5 -6with the neutral air duct above the col air duct. As shown, each duct is of generally rectangular cross section having along the length thereof respective series of side openings 58, formed in opposed upright side wall portions of each duct. The adjacent horizontal wall portions 54a, 56a, at respective upper and lower sides of the ducts 54, 56 are arranged in spaced parallel disposition, and insulating material may, for example, be provided in the intervening space.

In use of the air conditioning system, air is exited from the openings 58 as required to provide conditioned air to a space to be heated or cooled such as a room.

However, not all of the openings 58 may be required and, as shown further in Figure 4, caps 60 may be provided to close off those of the openings which are not required.

e)ee These caps may, for example, be clip on devices, and may in any event be demountable, to allow for future connection of mixing boxes (next described) at the S. locations of those openings.

SOutflow from the ducts 54, 56 is provided via mixing boxes 62, one such e mixing box being shown in Figures 5 and 6 as comprising an outer casing 64 formed of sheet material. One wall portion 66 is in use upright and is provided with openings 68. The mixing box is designed to be attached to the ducts 54, 56 in such a fashion S. 20 that the wall 64 lies adjacent to co-aligned wall portions 54b, 56b of the ducts 54, 56, S o* and whereby the openings 68 in the mixing box communicate with openings 58 of both ducts. An internal partition wall 70 may be provided within the mixing box, extending from wall portion 66 a short distance so as to define, between angled wall portions 74, 76 of the casing wall, respective openings 78, 80. These openings are 25 fitted with sliding-type motorised dampers 80, 82 for purposes of airflow regulation.

Other types of damper may be employed, or they could in some cases be dispensed with. In any event, where provided, these are effective to regulate air flow from openings 58 in the ducts via the openings 68 in the mixing box through portions of the interior of the mixing box to either side of the wall portion 70 and thence into a commonly supplied portion 84 of the interior of the mixing box, which portion communicates with, in this instance three, flexible outlet ducts 88. The ducts 88 communicate with the interior portion 84 via openings 90 in the rasing of the mixing 91082,kx]pe.002,Iinnc6 -7box.

As shown most particularly in Figure 5, it is convenient to arrange that the mixing boxes can clip and hook onto the ducts 54, 56. Thus, the mixing box has an elongate lengthwise extending channel portion 90 which can hook over an upstanding flange 92 on the upper surface of duct 56 whilst a suitable clip 94 is provided at the underside to couple the mixing box casing to the duct 54 at adjacent lower portions of the mixing box and duct. A number of such clips may be provided. These may be of a form resiliently pressing the mixing box against the ducts 54, 56. Suitable air seals, such as resilient strips are provided between the wall portion 66 of the mixing box and the wall portions 54b, 56b of ducts 54, 56, about the openings 58, 68.

O"s In the construction shown, the openings 58 have frustoconical flanges 58a and the i" openings 68 have surrounding inwardly directed frustoconical flanges 68a, the latter lying against the former when the mixing box is attached to the ducts. In this case, 15 sealing material may be affixed to one or both of the two kinds of flanges 58a, 68a so as to be sandwiched between pairs of flanges 58a, 58b when the mixing box is in 1 0.

position.

In use, then, air flow is as described directed from the air handling units 16 S* 20 and 30 through the ducts 22, 24, which are formed as vertical risers in most instances, and thence through the ducts 50, 52 to the ducts 54, 56 from whence outlet air from the two durct 54, 56 is mixed in mixing boxes 62 and taken via the flexible ducts 88.

The ducts 88 may communicate with outlet openings in the space to be cooled or heated.

0. Figure 3 shows a typical layout where the flexible ducts 88 communicate with outlets 100 disposed in a space to be heated or cooled. Here, the air supply ducts 54, 56 are shown, one mixing box 62 also being shown diagrammatically. Figure 8 illustrates a typical arrangement and disposition of components of the two units 12, 30, the cooling means 36 being in the form of heat exchange tubing through which cooled water is circulated. In this instance the cooled water is provided from chillers 37 which cool the water circulated through the heat exchange tubing.

910821,kxlspc.002,1iicolne2,7 -8- In a preferred form of the invention, the neutral air handling unit 12 is provided with cooling means 102, in addition to the heating means 14. Thus, where there is a heavy cooling load, it is possible to operate the unit 12 as a cooling unit to supply cold air to the duct 54 as well as to the duct 56. Thus, the cold airflow to the space to be cooled is boosted. Figure 7 plots typical air quantity as supplied to a mixing box 62 as this varies, under control of the system, in accordance with temperature in the space to be cooled or heated. Figure 2 shows typical control curves for temperature in the two ducts 54, 56.

In a form of the invention, the two ducts 54, 56 are formed as a single lengthwise extending duct structure from a single length of sheet material such as sheet steel. Figure 9 shows such an arrangement where a single sheet 110 is conformed to present, at adjacent co-planar portions 112, 114 thereof, upright side walls of respective ducts 54, 56. Portion 114 co-joins with a horizontal portion 116 15 which forms the base of the duct 54, and extends to an upright portion 118, which is 00 disposed parallel to portion 114 to define the opposite side wll of duct 54. Portion 118 extends to a further portion 120 which extends parallel to portion 116 to define the roof of the duct 54. Portion 116 co-joins with a short upright portion 122 mechanically joined or otherwise sealed to the sheet material at the location where 20 portions 112, 114 co-join, portion 122 then extending to a further horizontal portion 0* 124 which is in spaced overlyiag relationship to the portion 120 to define the floor of the duct 56. Portion 122 joins with to an upstanding portion 126 which is in spaced co-planar relationship with the wall portion 118 and which defines a side wall of the duct 56 opposite portion 112. Portion 126 joins with a portion 128 which is in 25 spaced parallel relationship to the portion 124 and defines the roof of the duct 56.

Portion 128 terminates at an edge 128a which is arranged to be mechanically joined to the portion 112, such by securing it to a horizontal edge flange 112a thereof at the upper end of portion 112a. Insulating material 130 may be positioned between the two ducts particularly between the wall portions 120, 124, and further insulating material 132 may be provided around the wall portions defining duct 56, as shown.

In Figure 10, an alternative form is shown where the floor of the duct 56 is 910821,kxlspc.O2Jinconc.2,8 -9defined by a horizontal sheet metal portion 136 co-joining with an upstanding portion 138 defining an upright side wall of the duct 56. Portion 138 in turn joins with a horizontal portion 140 which defines the roof of the duct 56. Portion 140 joins with a vertically extending portion 144 which defines side walls of each of the ducts 54, 56. At its lower end, portion 144 joins to a horizontal portion 146 which defines the floor of duct 54. Portion 146 joins to a vertical portion 148 which defines a side wall of the duct 54. The latter is mechanically joined, such as at a flange 150, to portion 136 at the location thereof adjacent wall portion 138. Similarly, portion 136 has an upturned portion 152 which is mechanically joined or otherwise sealed to upstanding wall portion 144. Insulating material 154 may be provided on portion 136 to provide insulation between the two ducts, and further insulating material 156 may be provided around the upper portions of the ducting structure shown, particularly over that part defining the duct 56.

15 In the duct structures shown in figures 9 and 10, the mechanical joining described may be effected by any suitable technique such as welding, soldering or riveting.

The neutral due 54 described may in use carry air at a temperature such as 20 20-25 0 C, in neutral operation, and for some part of the year may carry air at above 6 and for another part of the year may carry air at below 20 0

C.

B

The arrangement of the ducts 54, 56 one above the other permits a particularly convenient arrangement for mixing and distributing of air from the two ducts. That 25 is to say, mixing boxes 62 may be provided at any convenient locations along the lengths of the ducts, bring quickly and easily assemblable to the ducts. This ease of use may be particularly enhanced if the ducts are pre-formed with side openings, selectively and demountably blockable by caps, as described. The described ability to boost cold air flow by provision of cooling means in the unit 12 is also advantageous in that a lesser size may be employed for duct 56 than would otherwise be the case.

910821,kcdsp.2Jioonce.Z9 10 The direct coupling of the mixing boxes to the ducts, permitted by the adjacent one above the other disposition of these, permits greater flexibility of positioning and ease of movement of the demountable mixing boxes 62, when required to suit office layouts or to send portion space functional frequently. This is particularly convenient compared with arrangements where mixing boxes are coupled to distribution outlets by separate flexible ducting.

The invention has been particularly described in its application to a so-called "central" air conditioning system where, in a multi-storey building, air conditioning plant such as the units 12, 30 is provided only at one floor of the building to serve all floors or at least plant are provided only at certain ones of many floors each plant being arranged to serve several, say ten or more, floors. The invention is however equally applicable to an alternative form of air conditioning system know as "floorby-floor" where air conditioning plant is provided at each floor of a building to serve 15 each floor separately. Thus, Figure 1 shows use of ducts 42, 44 to move air vertically from floor to floor of a building. These would not be necessary in a floor by floor installation, where the units 12, 30 might directly feed ducts 50, 52 or ducts 54, 56.

20 The units 12, 30 are shown as being of a type where air is drawn through these by blowers, but the invention may alternatively utilise units where the air is forced into the units by blowers.

While the described means of attachment of the mixing boxes to the ducts, by &*eve: 25 use of co-operating hook elements, is satisfactory, it is of course possible to use other known forms of connection.

The described method of forming the two ducts 54, 56 from a single piece of metal is also not essential, and ducting of largely conventional construction may instead be employed if desired.

In the modification of Figures 11 to 13, the ducts 54, 56 are run in one or 910821,kxlspc.002Jinone.ZIO 11 more floors of a building. In particular, a raised floor 240 is shown constructed above a structural floor 242 with the ducts in a space 244 between these. They need not in this case be one above the other, but may for example be side-by-side, and in spaced positions, as shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the mixing boxes 62 are not constructed to hook onto the ducts 54, 56. As shown, these are in the form of air terminals 248 arranged to be integrated with a raised portion of the building floor.

Alternatively they may be installed on a slab within such raised floor portion. These mixing boxes may have a connection on either one or both sides to create a swirl effect in the terminal initiating a desired swirl of the airjet 250 leaving the air grille 252. The outlet grille 252 may contain adjustable grilles (not shown) for personal comfort control and may direct air upwardly. The terminals 248 may contain an adjustable air flow control means (also not shown). Each terminal may be interconnected to cold and neutral air ducts by flexible ducts 256, 258 and be of S* generally upright cylindrical form with the ducts inletting air tangentially as shown in 15 Figure 12, to produce the described swirl. As before, ducts 54, 56 may be provided S.Go* with spaced openings, with removable covers to permit selective coupling of terminals 248 thereto, as desired.

Otherwise, the control arrangements for this modified embodiment may be the same as previously described.

The described construction has been advanced merely by way of explanation, and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

910821,kxlspc.002,linolnec.2,11

Claims (13)

12- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. An air conditioning system comprising first and second ducts, me ns for causing airflow through the ducts and arranged to enable air at differing temperatures to be passed through the respective ducts, wherein the ducts are disposed one above the other. 2. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim 1 including a mixing box, said mixing box having openings therein communicating with the interiors of the respective ducts via respective openings in the ducts, the mixing box having an outlet for outlet of mixed air from the ducts. 0:00 3. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the mixing box is S; demountably attached to the ducts. 4. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the mixing box is directly attached to the ducts. An air conditioning system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the 20 mixing box is provided with flow regulating means for regulating the relative proportions of air from each of the two ducts and which in use emerges from the outlet. 6. An air conditioning system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein 1 25 securing means is provided securing the mixing box to the ducts. d *0 7. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said securing means includes co-operating elements which are in use hooked together to enable the mixing box to be hooked to at least one of the ducts. 910821,kxWspc.00i2jncolno212 S1 I 13 8. An air conditioning system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 including heating means for heating air which in use flows through the first duct and cooling means for cooling air which in use flows through the second duct. 9. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim 8 including air cooling means operable to cool air in the first duct whereby to enable boosting of flow of cooled air from the system. An air conditioning system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the ducts are provided at intervals along the lengths thereof with apertures at least some of which are blocked off by use of removable covers. 11. An air mixing box attachable to ducts of an air conditioning system as claimed in claim 1 whereby to, in use, receive air flow from both ducts and direct this air flow to an outlet opening provided in the mixing box. 00 12. An air mixing box as claimed in claim 11 including an outlet and inlet in use separately communicable with the ducts. fo 20 13. An air mixing box .s claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, having damper means for regulation of flow through the mixing box to the outlet.

14. A method of air conditioning a space, comprising passing air of differing temperatures thereto from one or both of two ducts, wherein the ducts are positioned one 25 above the other i' adjacent disposition and the passing of air to the space from the ducts is effected via a mixing box with an outlet communicating with said space and with both said ducts. An air conditioning system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. An air mixing box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the 940221,p:\operAkailincoln.res,13 14 accompanying drawings.

17. A method of air conditioning a space substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. An air conditioning system comprising first and second ducts, means for causing airflow through the ducts and arranged to enable air at differing temperatures to be passed through the respective ducts, wherein means is provided for passing heated air through one said duct, and for selectively passing cooled air through a first of the ducts or through both ducts.

19. An air conditioning system comprising first and second ducts, means for causing airflow through the ducts and arranged to enable air at differing temperatures to b- passed through the respective ducts, wherein means is provided for passing heated air through one said duct, wherein the ducts .ie positioned in a portion of a floor of a building.

20. An air conditioning system comprising first and second ducts, means for causing airflow through the ducts and arranged to enable air at differing temperatures to be passed through the respective ducts, wherein means is provided for passing heated air through 20 one said duct, wherein the ducts communicate with a mixing box, which is formed in a raised floor tile or other ficor portion, or installed on a slab within a raised floor or otherwise within a raised floor.

21. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the mixing box has a connection on either one or both sides to create a swirl effect in the air flow leaving the mixing box.

22. A method of air conditioning a space, comprising passing air at differing temperatures thereto from one or both of two ducts, rand the passing of air to the space from the ducts is effected via a mixing box with an outlet communicating with said space and with both said ducts. 940221,p:\opi\ktJincoln.re,14

23. An air conditioning system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the ducts are positioned in a portion of a floor.

24. An air conditioning system comprising first and second ducts, means for causing airflow through the ducts and arranged to enable air at differing temperatures to be passed through the respective ducts, wherein a mixig box is provided in communication, at least selectively, with both ducts to permit air to be directed from the ducts to a space to be air conditioned.

25. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim 24 arranged for tangential inlet of air from the ducts to the mixing box.

26. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the mixing box is positioned under a floor of a building. Dated this 10th day of March, 1994 S: 20 By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE *oo t oo *o~oJ 9431Op:,pahacuil1 -16- ABSTRACT An air conditioning system having two ducts, a cold air duct through which cold air is normally circulated and a neutral air duct through which warm air is normally circulated. The ducts each have a series of openings along the length thereof. The openings are covered with removable covers. Selected ones of the covers are removed to enable access to the ducts at corresponding locations along the Slengths of these. A detachable air terminal is provided communicatable with the ducts, such as by flexible ducting. The terminals may be under a raised floor of a building in a fashion enabling air flow from the two ducts into the mixing box. CS s* 910821,kxlspe.002,Oincolne2,16