AU733063B2 - A diffuser for an air outlet - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: TECHMETAL INDUSTRIES PTY LTD A.C.N. 000 181 760 Warren Richard LESNIE Address of Service: SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 "A DIFFUSER FOR AN AIR OUTLET" Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application No. PO 0056 dated 23rd May 1996 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- -2- The present invention relates to a diffuser and in particular to a diffuser for an air outlet.

The invention has been developed primarily for air conditioning systems and will be described hereinafter with reference to that application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to that particular field of use.

Hitherto, diffusers for air outlets and in particular linear slot diffusers have included a shroud which is fitted to an air outlet. This shroud generally includes two flow paths along which the conditioned air can progresses before exiting the shroud and entering a room or building. It has been known to include vanes within the shroud to regulate the air flow along the respective paths, which in turn controls the directional flow of the air exiting the shroud.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a diffuser for an IF outlet, the diffuser including: o o :i a longitudinally extending shroud having an inlet aperture for receiving air from the outlet and an outlet aperture spaced apart from the inlet aperture for allowing passage of air from the shroud, wherein the shroud defines a first and a second flow path extending between the inlet and outlet apertures; and 0 0o a first and a second vane each disposed within the shroud and being rotatable about o respective longitudinal axes extending substantially parallel to the shroud, and between an open and a closed configuration for restricting the flow of air along respective first and second flow paths, wherein the first vane is selectively rotatable beyond the open position and into the second flow path to facilitate airflow along the first flow path.

-3- Preferably, the second vane is selectively rotatable beyond the open position and into the first flow path to facilitate air flow along the second path. More preferably, rotation of one of the vanes beyond the open position necessitates movement of the other vane toward the closed position.

Preferably also, the diffuser includes at least one flange extending inwardly from the outlet aperture for allowing facilitating a predetermined flow of air from the shroud.

More preferably, the shroud includes an internal frame having a plurality of *ooo longitudinally spaced apart support formations for rotatably supporting the vanes. More preferably, each of the vanes includes a mounting formation and a vane wall extending S1. 10 from the formation, the wall being arcuate. Even more preferably, the vanes are mirror images of each other.

:°ooo• In a preferred form, the support formations include opposed spaced apart longitudinally extending inclined support surfaces, and the mounting formations are retained in abutment with each other and against respective support surfaces while the *15 respective vane walls extend outwardly from between the support surfaces and into one 0 or both of the flow paths.

Preferably, the vanes are centrally mounted within the shroud, the first and second flow paths passing either side of the support formations.

Preferably also, the mounting formations are resiliently biased into engagement with the support surfaces.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: r -4- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a diffuser for an air outlet according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the diffuser of Figure 1 with both vanes in the open position; Figure 3 is an end view of the diffuser of Figure 1 showing one of the vanes in the open position and the other in the closed position; and Figure 4 is an end view of the diffuser of Figure 1 with one of the vanes in the ooo.

""closed position and the other being rotated past the open position.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a diffuser 1 for an air outlet (not shown).

The diffuser includes a longitudinally extending shroud 2 having an inlet aperture 3 for receiving air from the outlet and an outlet aperture 4 spaced apart from the inlet aperture for allowing passage of air from shroud 2. The shroud defines a first and a second air flow path (schematically represented by way of example in Figure 2 by respective arrows 5 and 6) which extend between apertures 3 and 4. A first vane 11 and a second vane 12 are disposed within shroud 2 and are rotatable about respective longitudinal axes between an open and a closed position for restricting the flow of air along paths 5 and 6 respectively. Vane 11 is selectively rotatable beyond the open position and into path 6 to facilitate air flow along path 5, as is best shown in Figure 4.

Shroud 2 includes a frame having two opposed spaced apart longitudinally extending walls 15 and 16, both of which have a plurality of spaced apart opposed open ended channels 17. Walls 15 and 16 include respective flanges 18 and 19 which extend inwardly from the walls to facilitate a predetermined flow of air from the shroud.

Shroud 2 also includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart support formations 20 for supporting vanes 11 and 12. Although only a single formation 20 is illustrated it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that use can be made of a plurality of spaced apart formations.

s Formations 20 each include a centrally disposed body defined by a top wall 21 and two side walls 22 which extend downwardly from opposite edges of wall 21. Two arms 23 extend outwardly from respective walls 22 and include engagement formations 24, the ends 25 of which nest within respective open ended channels 17 to retain formations in a fixed configuration within shroud 2. In some embodiments formations 20 are 10 further secured to shroud 2 by rivets or bolts extending through adjacent walls 15 and 16 and formations 24.

:°ooom Referring in particular to Figure 2, each of vanes 11 and 12 include a semi circular mounting formation 31, an arcuate vane wall 32 extending from formation 31 into a respective flow path, and an intermediate portion 33. The vanes, as illustrated in Figure o 15 2, are disposed in the open position whereby the flow along paths 5 and 6 is substantially ~equal and optimised. With the vanes in this position the air will flow substantially directly outwardly from aperture 4.

The free ends of walls 22 include opposed inclined support arms 35 and 36 for supporting respective formations 31 of vanes 11 and 12. Preferably, formations 31 are resiliently biased into engagement with the arms 35 and 36. One highly preferred means of bias is a bowed resilient plate (not shown) having one end abutted against wall 21, and the other end abutted against the top of formations 31.

-6- With both vanes I11 and 12 in the open position they abut each other at opposed ends 41 and 42 and at respective intermediate portions 33. The vanes can be maintained at a position intermediate the open and closed position to regulate the volume of air exiting aperture 4. However, to maintain the flow substantially directly outwardly from aperture 4 the vanes should be disposed at substantially the same intermediate position.

Particular reference is made to Figure 3, where corresponding features are denoted by corresponding reference numerals. In this Figure vane 11 remains in the open position, while vane 12 has been rotated about formation 31 into the closed position. In this position, vane wall 32 abuts wall 16 and effectively closes path 6 to the flow of air.

10 However, because vane 11 remains in the open position air will continue to flow along 0 path 5, although the volume can be regulated by disposing vane 11I intermediate the open 4 and closed position. Another effect of the vane positioning shown in Figure 3 is that the air exiting aperture 4 will be directed toward the right due to flange 18. If it is desired to direct air to the left then vane 11 is moved to the closed position and vane 12 returned to 15 the open position.

An important feature of the invention is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein 0@ corresponding features are represented by corresponding reference numerals. More 01,00 particularly, with vane 12 in the closed position it is possible to rotate vane 11I past the 0 open position and into path 6 to facilitate air flow along path 5. The increased clearance between wall 15 and flange 18 that wall 32 of vane 11 achieves results in less resistance to air flows along path 5 and reduced noise.

It will be appreciated that vane 11 can be rotated past the open position when vane R A4/ 12 is not in the open position. Moreover, due to the symmetrical design of vanes 11 and 19766-VODOC -7- 12, vane 12 can also move past the open position, when vane 11 is not in the open position.

Shroud 2 can be easily and cheaply produced from extruded components.

Furthermore, assembly is straightforward. That is, two extruded walls 15 and 16 are arranged to accept a plurality of formations 20 which are slidably engaged with respective channels 17 and progressed into spaced apart positions. If desired, formations are fixed to walls 15 and 16, as discussed above. One of the vanes, for example vane 11, is then positioned such that formation 31 is disposed inwardly of arm 35, with portion 33 of the vane abutting the free end of arm 35. Thereafter the other vane, vane 10 12, is positioned with formation 313 abutted against both portion 33 of vane 11 and the free end of arm 36. Formation 31 of vane 12 is forced upwardly through the remaining 0 gap between the free ends of arms 35 and 36. The free ends initially outwardly deform and then resiliently return to the configuration shown to captively retain the vanes.

In the illustrated embodiment formations 31 are semi circular in cross-section and 15 hollow. Alternatively, formations 31 are solid cylindrical in shape along some or all of their length.

Preferred embodiments of the invention provide an effective diffuser for an air outlet with the added benefit of having vanes which are rotatable past the open position to facilitate air flow through the diffuser.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular example it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it may be embodied in many other forms.

19766-.DOC

Claims (11)

1. A diffuser for an outlet, the diffuser including: a longitudinally extending shroud having an inlet aperture for receiving air from the outlet and an outlet aperture spaced apart from the inlet aperture for allowing passage of air from the shroud, wherein the shroud defines a first and a second flow path extending between the inlet and outlet apertures; and a first and a second vane each disposed within the shroud and being rotatable about respective longitudinal axes extending substantially parallel to the shroud, and between an open and a closed configuration for restricting the flow of air along respective first and second flow paths, wherein the first vane is selectively rotatable beyond the open position and into the second flow path to facilitate airflow along the first flow path.

2. A diffuser according to claim 1 wherein the second vane is selectively rotatable beyond the open position and into the first flow path to facilitate air flow along the second path. i

3. A diffuser according to claim 2 wherein rotation of one of the vanes beyond the open position necessitates movement of the other vane toward the closed position.

4. A diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims including at least one I flange extending inwardly from the outlet aperture for facilitating a predetermined flow ooooo of air from the shroud.

A diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims including an internal frame having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart support formation for rotatably supporting the vanes.

6. A diffuser according to claim 5 wherein each of the vanes includes a mounting formation and a vane wall extending from the formation, the wall being arcuate.

7. A diffuser according to claim 6 wherein the vanes are mirror images of each other.

8. A diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support formations includes opposed spaced apart longitudinally extending incline support surfaces, and the mounting formations are retained in abutment with each other against respective support surfaces while the respective vane walls extend outwardly from between the support surfaces and into one or both of the flow paths.

9. A diffuser according to claim 8 wherein the vanes are essentially mounted within the shroud, the first and second flow paths passing either side of the support formations.

A diffuser according to claim 9 wherein the mounting formations are resiliently biased into engagement with the support surfaces.

11. A diffuser for an outlet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. •o DATED this 12th Day of March, 2001 S• TECHMETAL INDUSTRIES PTY LTD *eoo Attorney: RUSSELL J. DAVIES Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS