EP0395923A1

EP0395923A1 - Air distributor

Info

Publication number: EP0395923A1
Application number: EP90107055A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stig Wikström; Leif Eliasson
Original assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence; ABB Flaekt AB
Current assignee: ABB Technology FLB AB
Priority date: 1989-05-02
Filing date: 1990-04-12
Publication date: 1990-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2010-04-12
Also published as: FI901906A0; SE8901586L; DE69000848D1; FI94669B; NO901696L; FI94669C; NO172458C; DK0395923T3; EP0395923B1; NO172458B; SE8901586D0; NO901696D0

Abstract

An air distributor (1) comprises an upper part (2), which consists of a planar bottom part (4) and a connection piece (3) for incoming air, at which upper part (2) a perforated distribution disk (6) is attached by means of quick-fixing devices (9). On the inner side of the distribution disk (6) a control disk (17), made of a flexible or metallic material, is attached in several points in a variable manner. The control disk (17) can be entirely removed or exchanged for another one, designed in another way. Through various adjustments in the various fixing points in relation to the distribution disk (6) various distribution patterns for the incoming air and the coejected secondary air are obtained. The variable fixing means consist of bolts (20), provided with round about grooves (22), in combination with cross holes (21) in the control disk (17).

Description

The present invention relates to an air distributor of the type described in the preamble of patent claim 1.
The already known air distributors meet each one particular, specific requirements within some special fields. One of these air distributors as an example is easy and simple to produce but is devoid of variation possibilities in order to restrict and/or according to a certain pattern guide the flow and/or completely stop the flow if that is required in some special cases. Another air distributor is designed to better meet some of the latter requirements, but it is complicated and expensive to produce and mount. Still another air distributor cannot be adjusted afterwards or at least not easily, particularly by laymen.
The object of the present invention is to, in the above-mentioned respects, improve and develop the already known air distributors and suggest a new type of air distributor, which can be produced and mounted very easily and inexpensively and regarding which, in case that is required, it is also easy to ignore all kinds of guidance, restriction and blocking. Another object of the invention is to, in other general as well as special respects, develop the techniques in this field.
These objects are met according to the present invention by designing an air distributor of the type described in the introduction mainly according to the characterizing clause of the patent claim 1.
Additional characterizing features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which show a few selected preferred but not limiting embodiments. The drawings show in detail:

Fig. 1 a) a first embodiment of an air distributor according to the invention in a diametrical sectional view in a first functional position, namely a main air distribution in two opposite directions;
Fig. 1 b) a partial view from above of the distributor according to Fig. 1a),
Fig. 1 c) a view along arrow A in Fig. 1 a);
Fig. 1 d) a partial view from above of the distributor according to Fig. 1 a), the air distribution flow and intensity being indicated;
Fig. 2 a)-d) the distributor according to Fig. 1 a)-d) in analogous views, but with an altered ajustment of the control disk, particularly depicted in Fig. 2 c), and an in this way resulting alteration of the distribution pattern according to Fig. 2 d);
Fig. 3 a)-d) the distributor according to Fig. 1 a)-d) with an additional altered adjustment of the control disk;
Fig. 4 a)-d) the corresponding views of the same distributor as in Fig. 1 a)-d), but with a differently designed control disk, the shape of which is particularly shown in Fig. 4 d);
Fig. 5 a)-d) the distributor according to Fig. 4 a)-d) in analogous views, but with an altered adjustment of the control disk, particularily depicted in Fig. 4 c), and the in this way resulting alteration of the distribution pattern according to Fig. 5 d),
Fig. 6 a)-d) the distributor according to Fig. 4 a)-d) having an additional altered adjustment of the control disk;
Fig. 7 a) & b) the control disk according to Figs. 1-3 in a lateral view and a view from above; as well as
Fig. 7 c) & d) the same views as above but regarding an embodiment having a so called jet hole;
Fig. 8 a)-d) views according to Fig. 7 a)-d) of a second control disk design; and
Fig. 9 a)-d) views according to Fig. 7 a)-d) of a third control disk design.

In Fig. 1 an air distributor 1 is shown, the design of which is known in broad outline and which comprises an upper part 2 having a connection piece 3 and a bottom part 4, which mainly may be plane and e.g. square or circular having a round about profile 5, preferably turned away from said connection piece, the function of which is to increase the interior distribution volume, allow a distance to e.g. an interior ceiling and provide a sound absorptive effect as well as constitute a counterpart to an underlying distribution disk 6 having substantially the same principal outer shape and dimensions. Piece 3 can be provided with a round about seal 7 and be connected to an air inlet pipe, not shown. The distribution disk may be completely closed or perforated over all its surface or partially perforated according to an arbitrary pattern, e.g. having a closed or non-perforated central part and perforations solely in the edge areas. The outer edge of distribution disk 6 may e.g. be turned upwards and form a round about frame 8, which suitably is turned towards the central part of profile 5.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment distribution disk 6 is attached to upper part 2 by means of quick-fixing devices 9, which comprise e.g. profiled bolts 10, fastened by one end to the distribution disk, which bolts extend through holes 11 in the upper part with their free end and are locked in this insertion position by means of spring clips 12, which may be mainly U-shaped and inserted above the upper part below two pressed-up pieces 13, the ends of said clips possibly being bent outwardly and inwardly in such a way as is shown in Figs.d) in order to provide an insertion limitation in a simple and reliable way. Holes 11 are of course larger in diameter than the distance between the legs of said clips. Said bolt profiling may be arbitrary, but preferably it is to comprise round about grooves 14, disposed at a certain regular distance from each other and in one of which the corresponding spring clip is to interfere. Possibly said grooves in the surface which follows in the insertion direction may be limited by means of a round about flatter or more extended phase, while the grooves in the other direction are limited by means of a steeper or shorter phase, which results in an facilitated pushing together of the upper part and the distribution disk, while the disassembly is somewhat obstructed. In this way it is easy to insert the distribution disk to the required adjustment position, while an unintentional loosening or a too easy removal of the distribution disk practically are impossible. In case the pushing together-movement is to be limited, e.g. to always allow some round about air distribution gap 16, then it is easy to accomplish this by placing e.g. a plastic sleeve 15 about bolts 10, which sleeve constitute a stop means, which it is easy to make shorter or remove.
A control disk 17 of an elastic material, preferably a plastic material, is positioned on distribution disk 6, preferably in a central position. A sufficiently thin and consequently elastic metal sheet can of course be used instead. The control disk may have an arbitrary shape. However, a few preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the control disk is oval or circular. It has a central diametrical ridge 18, which may be e.g. about 2 cm wide and is in the position shown in Fig. 1 parallell with the distribution disk. Control blades 19 extend outwards and downwards from the edges of the ridge and are terminated with circular arc-shaped edges, whose tops or crowns preferably abut the interior of the distribution disk. The shape of the control disk shown in Fig. 1 suitably corresponds to its shape in the uninfluenced condition.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention control disk 17 is attached to distribution disk 6 by means of bolts 20, which project from disk 6 like bolts 10, and the free ends of which may extend through cross holes 21 in the two ends of ridge 18. Bolts 20 may be similar to bolts 10, which means that grooves 22, which are regularly distributed along bolts 20 in their entire length, are designed to receive the lug-shaped areas 23 of the control disk around one of said cross holes, by means of which the control disk is secured in the adjusted position. However, in this case grooves 22 may have straight walls, i.e. being right-angled in relation to the bolt axis, which obstructs somewhat position alterations of the control disk but guarantees to a higher degree that the adjustment position of the control disk is maintained . Stop means, e.g. plastic sleeves, can also be used, if it is needed in special cases.
It is shown that the position of the control disk according to Fig. 1 d) is designed to guide the inlet air in two main directions, indicated by large arrows in this figure and the large upper arrows to the left and to the right in Fig. 1 a). At the same time smaller air streams penetrate downwardly through distribution disk and secondary air, i.e. room air, is sucked into the main streams in the way shown in Fig. 1 a). In case distribution disk 6 is designed with perforations in the central part, inlet air can enter from the sides of the ridge ends below the control disk and also escape to some degree in the center of the distribution disk. In certain ca ses a low pressure can be obtained within the latter area, and consequently secondary air may be sucked through the center of the distribution disk and mixed with inlet air within the distributor.
If the position of the control disk is altered into e.g. the one shown in Fig. 2, one of said ridge ends being pressed down to completely abut said distribution disk (see Fig. 2c), a main direction for the distribution of the inlet air is obtained, while e.g. no inlet air at all is distributed in the opposite direction and actually a low pressure may be obtained within this area, which means that secondary air flows to the distributor and joins the main stream of inlet air.
According to Fig. 3 the other ridge end has also been pressed down and abuts the distribution disk and in this way a uniform escape of inlet air at all sides and a flow of secondary air are obtained and of course also a blocked escape of inlet air from the center of the distribution disk, if it is provided with holes.
The air distributor according to Figs. 4-6 is identical with the one shown in Figs. 1-3, with the exception of the control disk, which in this case is designated 24 and roughly is designed as a rectangular disk having round corners 25, 26, 27 and 28. Two control blades 29 and 30 are used in this case also, which however are not symmetrical, neither as to the basic design nor as to how they are disposed. Blade 29 is namely preferably disposed at a higher level, which suitably always is at least roughly parallell to the distribution disk. The blade may, with its central outer or free edge area, be attached to a bolt 20 having the same design as in Figs. 1-3. However, the blade itself is in this area preferably provided with an oblong hole 31, which is oriented towards the center of the blade, and in this way certain positional alterations may be compensated. Corners 27 and 28, which delimit blade 29, suitably are softly curved having a larger radius than the two remaining corners. Towards the center a stepped zone 32 is connected to blade 29 and is oriented towards the distribution disk, with an angle α between said zone and blade 29, which is 100° - 170°, preferably 150°-160°. The second blade 30 is in its turn connected to zone 32 and is disposed in a plane, which forms an angle β with the distribution disk, which angle is 0° - 60°, preferably 5° - 30°. The outermost free end of blade 30 suitably abuts the distribution disk. Within the shoulder or bottom area of blade 30 it is suitably provided with cross holes 33 within its corner areas, which constitute zone 32, the cross holes being used in the same way as the cross holes described above. Stop means may also be used in this embodiment, designed as plastic sleeves or the like 34, mounted around bolts 20.
It is shown in Fig. 4, that the shown position adjustment of the control disk results in a main flow direction for the inlet air, while in the opposite direction there is no flow or a zone for incoming secondary air.
In the control disk position shown in Fig. 5, in which blade 29 is disposed on the same adjustment level and also one of the cross holes, while the other cross hole has been lowered as shown in Fig. 5 c), two main flow directions are obtained, adjacent each other and with an angle therebetween, the actual main direction running through corner 25.
In the control disk position shown in Fig. 6 all three fixing points for the control disk have, as compared to Fig. 4, been lowered by one unit, which means, that a mainly U-shaped flow pattern is obtained, having air inlet flows oriented in three directions, adjacent each other, while the fourth direction lacks an air inlet flow and possibly serves as an incoming zone for secondary air.
According to the third main embodiment, shown in the drawings, for the control disk, one of its blades is mainly triangular in shape, and in this way a larger through or by-pass flow within the area for said blade is obtained.
All the control disks can of course be provided with e.g. central holes 35, through which a so called jet addition will flow, which is freely discharged below the distribution disk, feeding jet or pilot streams.
The control disks can also be designed (17′,24,36) in an uninfluenced condition in the way shown in Figs. 7-9. Any other design is of course feasible. It is also possible to use several control disks simultaneously or subdivide the disks in another way. The control disks may also be removed, which due to the characterizing features according to the invention in a simple way can be pulled loose from their fixing points. Bolts 10 and/or 20 suitably can be fastened in the holes provided in the distribution disk as a perforation or in another way. Various control disks can be provided as a set and the installation contractor can e.g. select a suitable control disk. The control disks as a rule ought to be air-impenetrable, but they can of course, if that is required, be provided with a perforation or the like.

Claims

1. An air distributor (1), comprising an upper part (2), which consists of a connection piece (3) for the air inlet and an expansion of the same, forming a bottom part (4), to which a distribution disk (6) is attached, enclosing a preferably round about air distribution gap (16), but also between said distribution disk and said bottom part and connection piece respective means (17,17′,24,36), designed to distribute and/or restrict and/or block the air flow, characterized in that said means comprises a control disk made of a flexible plastic or metallic material, said control disk being preferably centrally disposed on said distribution disk (6) and fastened in such a variable way, that the control disk by altering the fastening position can be deformed , using its deformation capacity, it in this way being possible to obtain various distribution patterns for the incoming air and the coejected secondary air.

2. An air distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that said distribution disk (6) is completely closed or perforated over all its surface or partially perforated, e.g. having a closed or unperforated central part and perforations solely in the edge area.

3. An air distributor according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said bottom part (4) has a round about profile (5), preferably turned away from said connection piece (3), in order to increase the inner distribution volume and/or obtain a distance to e.g. an interior ceiling and/or provide a sound absorptive effect and/or provide a counterpart for the underlying distribution disk (6), which essentially has the same principal outer shape and dimension, and which suitably has an outer edge, bent upwards, in order to, with a round about frame (8) designed in this way, be directed against the central part of said profile (5).

4. An air distributor according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that said distribution disk (6) is attached to said upper part (2) by means of quick-fixing devices (9), preferably comprising profiled bolts (10), which are fastened to the distribution disk by one of their ends and extend through holes (11) in said upper part with their free end and are fastened in their insertion position by means of e.g. spring clips (12), which preferably are U-shaped and are inserted above the upper part and below two pressed-up pieces (13), the free ends of said clips preferably being bent, first outwardly and then inwardly in order to form insertion limitations, and the diameter of said bolts (10) being larger than the distance between the legs of said clips.

5. An air distributor according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that said control disk (17,17′,24, 36) mainly is circular or oval or rectangular or triangular, at least on one side of a central area, which preferably is a central ridge (18;32) and which subdivides said control disk in control blades (18,19;29,30).

6. An air distributor according to claim 5, characterized in that said control disk (17,17′,24,36) is attached to bolts (20), which project from the inner surface of the distribution disk (6) and the free ends of which extend through holes, preferably cross holes (21) in said control disk in its ridge (18;32) or immediately adjacent the ridge, the last-mentioned bolts (20) having a profiling, preferably designed as regularly disposed grooves (22), among which one arbitrarily is designed to receive and retain the control disk area about a hole (21). through which the respective bolt has been extended.

7. An air distributor according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the profiling of at least one of said bolts (10;20) consists of grooves (14;22), the walls of which are right-angled or obtuse-angled, e.g. steep or flat, in relation to the adjacent bolt periphery in order to facilitate and obstruct respectively an insertion and a removal respectively of spring clips (12) and said control disk (17,17′, 24,36) respectively.

8. An air distributor according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that sleeves or the like (15;34), made of e.g. a plastic material, are placed on at least one of said bolts (10;20) in order to function as a pushing limitation for the upper part (2) and the control disk (17,17′,24,36).

9. An air distributor according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the control disk (17,17′) in an unloaded condition is saddle-shaped, i.e. roughly shaped as an inverted V or roughly an Z, the center leg (32) of which on the same side with one of the control blades (29) forming an acute angle and with the other control blade (30) an obtuse angle, and in that the control disk may have an e.g. central hole (35) for a through distribution part.

10. An air distributor according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the control disk (24;36) is designed to be fastened by the free end of a control blade (29) immediately adjacent the distribution disk (6) on a bolt (20) and is, within this area, provided with an oblong hole (31), designed to allow positional displacements of said blade across in relation to said bolt.