EP1619452A1

EP1619452A1 - Ventilation apparatus with peripheral outflow

Info

Publication number: EP1619452A1
Application number: EP20050076688
Authority: EP
Inventors: Patrick Johannes Hendrikus Maria Janssen; Paul Johann Ferdinant Brulez; Bart Eduard Cremers
Original assignee: Biddle BV
Current assignee: Biddle BV
Priority date: 2004-07-23
Filing date: 2005-07-22
Publication date: 2006-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-22
Also published as: EP1619452B1; NL1026708C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ventilation apparatus for recirculating or freshening air in a space, comprising: a housing (2) with air displacing means, an air inlet (3,4) into the housing for the purpose of supplying air and an air outlet out of the housing and into the space for emitting a recirculated or freshening airflow. The air outlet herein comprises a peripheral opening (5) without corners in the form thereof.

Description

The present invention relates to a ventilation apparatus for recirculating or freshening air in a space, comprising: a housing with air displacing means; an air inlet into the housing for the purpose of supplying air; and an air outlet out of the housing and into the space for emitting a recirculated or freshening airflow.
Such ventilation apparatuses are generally known, particularly those which can be incorporated into a system ceiling. The apparatuses normally have a downward oriented form which is rectangular in bottom view so as to fit into such a system ceiling. It is usual here for the air outlet to comprise a number of discrete openings or slots extending parallel to the rectangular peripheral form of the ventilation apparatus in bottom view.
The prior art ventilation apparatuses have the drawback that the possibilities for effecting an airflow in some, if not all, desired directions are limited. The orientation of the openings forming the air outlet along the edges of the ventilation apparatus which form a rectangle does not allow a uniform airflow in all desired directions.
The present invention has for its object to obviate or at least reduce the above stated drawbacks of the known art, for which purpose a ventilation apparatus according to the present invention is distinguished in that the air outlet comprises a peripheral opening without corners in the form thereof. This provides the option of creating airflows in all desired directions in a space.
In preferred embodiments the air outlet can be circular or elliptical but it is also possible for the air outlet to have a form which is still substantially polygonal, but which has at least three corners which are each rounded to a considerable degree to the extent an airflow coming substantially from these corners into the space is still sufficient to achieve the desired effect.
As a component of the air outlet, a channel preferably extends between the air displacing means and the opening. Hereby possible for instance is a central positioning of the air inlet, around which the peripheral opening can then extend. The air inlet then debouches at the air displacing means which generate an airflow through the channel to the opening. A compact arrangement can thus be realized.
Orienting means are preferably arranged in the opening for orienting the airflow. It may thus be desirable to adjust the direction of the expelled airflow, depending on a cooling or heating function of the ventilation apparatus. A cooling airflow will here usually be expelled more horizontally along the ceiling and, conversely, a heating airflow will be directed vertically downward to a greater extent. Such orienting means can serve to make the ventilation apparatus according to the present invention suitable for both applications. These orienting means are preferably thus adjustable so as to make the same ventilation apparatus according to the invention suitable for a cooling or heating function as required. A heating element, a cooling element or a heat exchanger generally is preferably also placed in the housing here to enable implementation of the relevant function.
In an embodiment with a channel leading to the opening and with orienting means, a ventilation apparatus according to the invention preferably has the feature that the orienting means comprise a constriction in the channel. Such a constriction forms a narrowed portion in the channel along which the airflow must move toward the opening and, if the positioning of the constriction is suitably chosen, the adjustment of the airflow through the channel results in a desired outflow direction, i.e. horizontally and/or vertically oriented to a greater or lesser degree.
If the orienting means must be adjustable and comprise a constriction, the distance between the opening and the constriction in the channel is then preferably adjustable for the purpose of orienting the airflow. This can be realized in diverse ways depending on the form as seen from below in the situation of use of the ventilation apparatus according to the invention. When for instance the opening, the channel and the constriction are annular, which is a highly favourable and simple embodiment, the constriction can be a ring in the channel which is for instance suspended from a screw thread with the possibility of rotating the ring over the screw thread so as to thus enable adjustment of said distance between the opening and the constriction.
Diverse embodiments of the constriction can be envisaged within the scope of the invention, but particularly when the air inlet is positioned centrally and the air outlet extends therearound, the airflow flowing out of the air outlet will preferably be oriented away from the air inlet so that an airflow flowing into the air inlet and the outgoing airflow generated by the ventilation apparatus according to the invention disrupt each other as little as possible. This can be realized for instance with the measures of claim 11, or perhaps also of claim 12.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is possible for a ventilation apparatus according to the present invention to preferably have the feature that the constriction extends from a side wall of the channel with an intermediate space forming a gap. Such a gap, along which can also flow some air which must flow through the opening to the outside, is expected to have a favourable effect on the finally obtained airflow and the orientability thereof.
This latter is for instance the case in an embodiment wherein the opening encloses the air inlet. As already mentioned above, this results in a very compact and therefore efficient configuration. At least one screen element can herein be arranged at the opening for locally blocking, along a part of the length of the opening, the airflow flowing out of the opening. It has been found that the chance of disruption between the incoming and outflowing airflows is hereby reduced because a feed of air to the air inlet is provided along the screen element without essentially interrupting the outgoing airflow and substantially without effect on the possibilities of orienting this outgoing airflow. Use can preferably be made here of a number of screen elements, which are herein arranged in uniform distribution round the air inlet. An optimal path to the air inlet is thus provided, substantially without disruption of the outgoing airflow.
The present invention also relates to a ventilation apparatus per se, wherein the air outlet comprises at least one opening with orienting means for orienting the airflow as according to claim 16, and a ventilation grating serving as air inlet for a ventilation apparatus according to the invention.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail hereinbelow for the purpose of an improved understanding thereof, and together with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar parts and components are designated with the same reference numerals, and in which:

fig. 1 shows a perspective bottom view of a ventilation apparatus according to the present invention;
fig. 2 is a bottom view of the ventilation apparatus of fig. 1;
fig. 3 shows a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a ventilation apparatus according to the present invention;
fig. 4 shows a side view in cross-section along the line IV-IV in fig. 3;
fig. 5 shows the detail of fig. 4 designated with V; and
fig. 6 shows a view corresponding with fig. 5 of a further embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a ventilation apparatus 1 according to the present invention. This comprises a housing 2 having therein air displacing means (not shown). On the side of housing 2 is arranged an air inlet 3 which is in open connection with the air displacing means (not shown). Alternatively, it is also possible to make use, as air inlet, of a grating 4 on what is the underside of ventilation apparatus 1 during use.
Likewise arranged on the underside of ventilation apparatus 1, around grating 4, is an opening which serves as air outlet or outflow opening.
Opening 5 is circular and peripheral, i.e. opening 5 has no corners or abrupt changes in direction where outflow of air at such corners or changes in direction would only be difficult, and often not possible, to bring about.
Brackets 6 serving as screen element are further arranged in opening 5. An airflow along brackets 6 to the grating 4 serving in the particular application as air inlet is possible, while an airflow blown along brackets 6 and out of opening 5 is not impeded hereby.
By way of clarification of the foregoing with reference to fig. 1, fig. 2 is a bottom view of the ventilation apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1. The bottom view of fig. 2 shows even more clearly the circular form of opening 5 which serves as air outlet. It is noted here that opening 5 can have diverse other embodiments, for instance elliptical, or even substantially polygonal with at least three, preferably highly rounded corners which are rounded to the extent that the intended effect of generating an airflow in substantially all directions is achieved. The airflow out of ventilation apparatus 1 is indicated in fig. 2 with arrows A.
In the embodiment of fig. 2 there are provided six brackets 6 which all have a width for achieving the above described effect of a screen element. Six brackets are arranged in uniform distribution round the periphery of opening 5.
Fig. 3 shows a bottom view of an alternative to the embodiment of fig. 2. Instead of the grating 4 of fig. 1 and 2 consisting of slats, use is made here of a visual plate 7 having therein a number of holes serving as air inlet for supply of air to the air displacing means. Where in the embodiment of fig. 1 and 2 use can therefore be made substantially of the air inlet 3 to be connected to a feed, the air inlet 3 is not provided in the embodiment of fig. 3, and use is made specifically and solely of an air inlet on what is during use the underside of the ventilation apparatus according to the present invention. In the embodiment of fig. 3 shown here use is also made of brackets 6, the choice and design of which is however wider in this embodiment than in the embodiment of fig. 1 and 2. This is realized in order to optimize even further the feed of air to the visual plate 7 serving as air inlet, which may be even more necessary since in the embodiment shown here in fig. 3 use is made mainly of visual plate 7 as air inlet and possible reliance is further not placed on air inlets 3, not even for instance for additional supply of freshening air as shown in fig. 1 or fig. 2. The embodiment of fig. 1 or fig. 2 will therefore often be intended to a greater extent for air freshening, while the embodiment of fig. 3 will be used more specifically for air recirculation.
Fig. 4 shows a side view in cross-section along the line IV-IV in fig. 3. An inflowing airflow is designated with arrow B. This enters the housing in a guide which converges in upward direction and which carries the airflow B to air displacing means (not shown). If desired, a cooler, a heater or other form of heat exchanger (not shown) can also be arranged above the upward converging element 8. As a result of the action of the air displacing means (not shown) and optionally a cooler, heater or other heat exchanger, an airflow for blowing out enters as according to arrow A a channel 9 which leads to opening 5.
The inward oriented wall 10 of channel 9 has a curvature or arch and diverges at 11 relative to the outward oriented wall 12 of channel 9, and at 13 the inward oriented wall 10 has a downward and outward oriented curvature 13. This is shown in more detail in fig. 5.
Fig. 5 also clearly shows a cone-like constriction 14 extending into channel 9. A narrowing of channel 9 is thus formed around which the airflow moves. In the position of constriction 14 shown in fig. 5, channel 9 is made particularly suitable for outflow of cooler air in the direction of arrow A'. Cooler air is herein blown along more in horizontal direction under the ceiling (not shown) of a space so as to ensure a good distribution of colder air, which tends to sink.
A number of protrusions 15 is arranged in channel 9 on the outward oriented wall 12 thereof. The constriction 14 of triangular cross-section rests with the upper leg 16 thereof on protrusions 15. Constriction 14 is annular, like opening 5, so that the upper leg 16 of constriction 14 also actually remains suspended on protrusions 15. If constriction 14 is twisted or turned in channel 9, constriction 14 comes to rest on a leg 17 on the upper leg 16 of constriction 14. Leg 17 has a length increasing in peripheral direction, so that turning of constriction 14 in channel 9 results in an upward displacement of constriction 14, as indicated with broken lines in fig. 5. In the higher position of constriction 14 the channel 9 is made more suitable for outflow of hot or heated air in the direction of arrow A which is oriented more in vertically downward direction than the outflow direction of arrow A'. The reason that this is more suitable for outflow of hot or heated air is that this air tends to rise, and an outflow direction that is oriented more vertically downward can bring about a better distribution of the hot or heated air.
Fig. 6 shows a further embodiment of a view of a ventilation apparatus according to the present invention. The view of fig. 6 corresponds to that of fig. 5.
It can be clearly seen that constriction 14 in the embodiment of fig. 6 is arranged with an intermediate space forming a gap 18 relative to and close to the outward oriented wall 12 which, together with the inward oriented wall 10, bounds channel 9. It has been found that such a gap 18 has a favourable effect on the flow progression of the airflow flowing through channel 9, particularly in terms of the orientability thereof along a ceiling (see fig. 4, 5) or more in downward direction in the direction of a floor of the space in which the ventilation apparatus in the embodiment of fig. 6 is arranged.
It will be apparent that, after examination of the foregoing description of several exemplary embodiments of the ventilation apparatuses according to the present invention, diverse alternative and additional embodiments will occur to the skilled person. These must all be deemed, to the extent they do not deviate in main aspects from the appended claims, and in particular the independent claims, to lie within the scope of protection defined by these claims. It is thus possible to use one or other type of valve in order to switch between supply of air via air inlets 3 or via a grating 7 or 4. Such an aspect has not been discussed in the foregoing. The use of a heater or cooler or other heat-exchanging element has however been mentioned. The air displacing means can be designed in a suitable manner at random. The width of the brackets can be adjustable, subject to air being fed to the air displacing means via air inlets 3 or via a grating 4 or 7. Brackets 6 can thus be made wider or narrower. It is thus the case that many more variants are possible which have not been explicitly discussed in the foregoing.

Claims

Ventilation apparatus for recirculating or freshening air in a space, comprising:
- a housing (2) with air displacing means;

- an air inlet (3;4) into the housing for the purpose of supplying air; and

- an air outlet out of the housing and into the space for emitting a recirculated or freshening airflow, wherein the air outlet comprises a peripheral opening (5) without corners in the form thereof.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening (5) of the air outlet is circular.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening of the air outlet is elliptical.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening of the air outlet is polygonal with at least three rounded corners.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the air outlet (4) in the housing comprises an elongate channel (9) which forms a passage for air between the air displacing means and the opening (5), wherein the channel debouches at the opening into the space.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein orienting means (9-17) are arranged at the opening (5) for orienting the airflow.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the orienting means (9-17) are adjustable.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claims 5 and 6, wherein the orienting means comprise a constriction (14) in the channel.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claims 7 and 8, wherein the distance between the opening (5) and the constriction (14) in the channel is adjustable for the purpose of orienting the airflow.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the opening (5), the channel (9) and the constriction (14) are annular.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the constriction (14) extends inward into the channel (9) from a wall of the channel corresponding to the outside of the housing.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein a wall (10) of the channel (9) located opposite the constriction (14) diverges outward in the direction of the opening (5).
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in at least claim 8, wherein the constriction (14) extends with an intermediate space forming a gap (18) from a side wall (10;12) of the channel (9).
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the opening (5) encloses the air inlet (4).
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one screen element (6) is arranged at the opening (5) for blocking the airflow coming out of the opening locally along a part of the length of the opening.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein a number of screen elements (6) are arranged in uniform distribution round the air inlet.
Ventilation apparatus for recirculating or freshening air in a space, comprising:
- a housing (2) with air displacing means;

- an air inlet (3;4) into the housing for the purpose of supplying air; and

- an air outlet (5) out of the housing and into the space for emitting a recirculated or freshening airflow, wherein the air outlet comprises at least one opening with orienting means (9-17) for orienting the airflow.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the orienting means are arranged in the housing (2) behind the opening (5) in the flow direction A of the air.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the orienting means (9-17) are adjustable.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 17, 18 or 19, wherein a channel (9) leading from the air displacing means to the opening is formed in the housing and the orienting means comprise a constriction (14) in the channel.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claims 19 and 20, wherein the distance between the opening (5) and the constriction (14) in the channel is adjustable for the purpose of orienting the airflow.
Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the opening (5), the channel (9) and the constriction (14) are annular.
Ventilation grating (4;7), comprising an air outlet (5) as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, and mounting means for assembling the grating (4;7) and the ventilation apparatus (2).