CA2031423A1 - Fabric duct system using segments with coupling means - Google Patents

Abstract

FABRIC DUCT SYSTEM USING SEGMENTS WITH COUPLING MEANS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A light weight, simple, low-cost, fabric duct system for the distribution of tempered air from a temporary air handling unit to a building or temporary shelter area. The system is comprised of a series of fabric tubes which are joined together using a hook and loop fastening system. Each segment of the duct system is comprised of a fabric tube containing, flush to each end, the loop portion and the hook portion of a hook and loop fastening system.
Once the system has been installed on location, the tempered air is discharged, inflating the system, and distributing the air uniformly.

Description

203~423 Fl~BRXC DUCT SYSTEM USING SEGMENTS WITH COUPLING MEANS
B~CKG~OUND OF TI~E INVENTION
This invention relates to flexible air ducts used in temporary or semi-permanent air distribution. In particular, it concerns flexible lightweight ducts used for distributing air, either heated, cooled, or ambient, to buildings which have such a requirement for air, including su~h structures as buildings under construction, temporary ~helter areas, greenhouses, and the like.
It is also an eEficiellt means of distributing fresh air to areas previously difficult to ventilate, such as mine shafts and manholes. Similarly, these ducts can be used to exhaust contaminated air, providing a safer working environment.
Even in northern climates, building construction is an - activity which, in spite of limitations caused by harsh weather, is no longer seasonal. Previously, once winter arrived, many construction activities were halted.
Currently, buildings under construction are temporarily enclosed using polyethylene or other similar materials, and heated to a temperature that allows construction to continue. Maintaining consistent temperatures is critical to the protection of materials previously installed, and is essential in the curing and finishing of materials during installation.
The building's permanent heating system is rarely available for use in the construction stages, therefore temporary heating units are installed and the tempered air is discharged into the enclosure. This procedure does not allow for even distribution of the tempered air. The expense of manufacturing, installing, and removing shest metal duct work is too great to be cost effective on a short-term or longer-term basis. Among the advantages of the flexible air ducts of the present invention are ease of 203~23 installation and removal, and durability. The ducts are effective for temporary and/or semi-permanent installations, such as installations with a lifetime of up to approximately ten years.
Air conditioners are frequently required on a temporary basis in the event of permanent system failure or system revisions.
Further, auditoriums needing cooling or ventilation often lack an air conditioning system. Additionally, show tents and other temporary shelter areas often require ventilating and/or cooling.
To achieve these results, temporary air conditioning units ar~
often installed outside the structure and the tempered air is ducted, using sheet metal ducts. Here, as with the heating system, the sheet metal duct is expensive to manufacture, install and remove on a short-term or temporary basis.
SUMM~RY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention reveals a temporary duct system that is lightweight, low cost and easy to install and remove. This invention will combine the advantages of a permanent heating, ventilating, or cooling system, with the advantages of a portable heating equipment, fans or cooling units in the transfer and distribution of air. The system should prove especially beneficial in the non-permanent air handling business, where either air conditioners or heating units are employed on a short-term basis.
The flexible air duct system of the present invention provide significant advantages over tubular polyethylene or the like, particularly due to the light weight of the present ducts, with the light weight being combined with durability during use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an elevational view of all components which are normally needed for use in connection with the present invention;
and 2~31~23 Figure 2 is a perspective cutaway view of the basic duct work employed in the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, the duct work is made up of a series of one or more of the components depicted in Figure l.
These components are all composed of a woven Dacron~ polyester or other suitable scrim-reinforced plastic film material. Dacron~
polvester is advantageous because of its strength, tear-resistance, fle~ibility, and light weight. Figure 2 is a cutaway view of the basic component ll utilizing the hook 12 and loop 13 fastening system. Included are fabric support rings 14 for use in installing the system. The most common method of installation is to suspend the system from the ceiling.
A continuous, uninterrupted strip of the hook portion and loop portion of a hook and loop fastening system (Velcro~) is employed, the width being 1" for low static pressures and 2" for higher pressures. This strip is secured flush to the inner and outer surfaces of the cylinder member being joined. It has been found that this magnitude of hook and loop fastening systems produce desirable results in both allowing quick assembly and disassembly of the duct work as well as a relatively air-tight seal at the coupling sites. These joints are durable, and highly effective in arranging an air-tight seal.
Referring to Figure 1, it can be seen that this invention is composed of several different types of fittings. Virtually any configuration can be assembled using these fittings to meet construction needs. For even distribution, holes can be cut in the straight sections of duct, allowing air to discharge uniformly. An end cap 15 is available for maintaining back pressure, keeping the duct system inflated, or for otherwise temporarily capping a line.

2031~23 This end cap is also effective in cutting off a supply of air that is no longer needed. This concept can be perceived by noting component 19, utilized when the user wishes to have the option of branching a duct for distributing air to two separate areas. If either branch of this "Y" component is no longer needed, an end cap 15 is used to stop the flow of air to the area no longer in use.
Components 17 and 18 are elbow-forming ducts used to provide smooth, even air flow around corners or obstacles. As previously stated, the most common method of installation is to suspend this system from the ceiling. These components are also used to move the air flow from ground level (at air handling unit) to the ceiling, where the duct system will be suspended. Also, these elbow-forming components fur~her reduce static pressure by allowing air to flow effortlessly around corners, maintaining the blower velocity of the air flow.
Furthermore, the duct work of the present invention possesses substantial flow advantages over the wire-wound plastic tubing.
~he wire-wound material provides a series of rib-like depressions which function on a cumulative basis to increase the pressure drop.
The lines of the present invention provide a much smoother interior for flow purposes. Additionally, it will be noted from the views that the flow direc-tion i5 arranged to flow from the female connector to the male connector, providing further reduction of discontinuous surfaces.
2~ Component 21 is a reducing fitting which gradually narrows.
This is generally used a-t the air handling unit to transition from the square discharge of the air handling unit itself to a diameter sufficient to meet the air handling needs.
The arrangement of the present invention provides for the production o long and short elbows, reducers, and a large number '2 ~ 2 ~

of other fittings. The material, particularly scrim-reinforced Dacro~ polyester is durable, and is also washable. Typical running lengths of straight sections of duct are 5' to 30', with the light weight and ease of attachment providing for the overall ease of installation. Also, the light weight characteristic of the product renders it possible to utilize the support rings 14-14 which attach and/or are otherwise ~oined to the external surface of the duct. For systems employing tubular polyethylene or the like, the weight of the product renders it normally necessary to provide a support ring which extends around the entire perimeter of the tubular material.
The above described components, coupled with straight sections, enable various configurations to be constructed and/or modified simply and efficiently. It is to be understood that this i~ for illustration purposes only and should not be limited thereto, but only to the scope of the following claims.
What is claimed is:

Claims (10)

1. A ventilation duct work system composed of a number of individual duct segments, each made of a thin, durable, fire-retardant, woven Dacron? polyester fabric, with fabric loops secured therein for hanging said ducts from a wall or ceiling, and wherein the individual segments are coupled with a continuous hook and loop fastening system having a width of at least 1" for low static pressures and at least 2" for higher pressure.

2. The duct work described in Claim 1 comprising a single section of said duct work, said section being cylindrical in shape when fully inflated, and said section containing on the inside surface, flush to one end of the cylinder, a strip of loop portion of a hook and loop fastening system; the opposite end of the cylinder containing the hook portion of a hook and loop fastening system, flush to the end of the cylinder, on the outside surface, allowing each section to be detached and secured to another section of said duct work.

3. The duct work described in Claim 2, wherein said duct work further includes a cylindrical opening located on the side of said duct work which allows the duct work described in Claim 2 to be attached at a 90° angle from the end of the cylinder, said cylindrical opening protruding out of said duct work a minimum distance of 5", said protrusion containing, on its outside surface, flush with the edge, the hook portion of a hook and loop fastening system.

4. The duct work described in Claim 2, wherein said duct work diverts from its axis along a 45° angle, or any angle up to 120° inclusive, and with said section of duct enabling the user of the system to receive a smooth flow of air around corners or other obstacles.

5. The duct work described in Claim 4, wherein said duct work diverts from its axis at a 90° angle, allowing for smooth air flow along adjacent corners or obstacles.

6. The duct work described in Claim 2, wherein said duct has a general "Y" shape allowing the user to route two duct systems to separate areas from one main inlet.

7. The component duct work described in Claim 2 including, but not limited to elbow fittings angled at 22-1/2° - 120°.

8. The component duct work described in Claim 2, said duct work section being in the shape of a "T".

9. The component duct work described in Claim 2, said duct work section being in the shape of a "Y".

10. The component duct work described in Claim 2, said duct work being angled at such a degree that one end of said component duct work will fit over the discharge portion of an air handling unit, while the other end of said component duct work will, in normal fashion, be detachable and securable to said sections of component duct work.