GB1594964A - Square ceiling diffuser - Google Patents

Description

(54) SQUARE CEILING DIFFUSER (71) I, SIAN PAH TIO, of Malaysian nationality, of c/o Polymate Industries (M) SDN. Berhad, Lot 10665, Jalan Kuchai Lama, Kuala Lumpur, West Malaysia, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a ceiling diffuser for an air conditioning system.

A ceiling diffuser in accordance with the invention comprises a casing defining a through flow duct of rectangular section, a shutter including a plurality of blades having parallel axes, the blades extending between and journalled in a pair of opposed walls of the duct, a slide member mounted on the casing outside the duct and having an actuating finger projecting through a slot in a side wall of the duct, the blades being engaged with the slide member to rotate in unison about their respective axes in response to displacement of the slide member on the casing whereby to adjust the free through flow area of the duct, and a grille detachably mounted on the casing at the outlet of the duct and arranged to diffuse air flowing through the duct. The casing and grille are preferably formed as separate plastics mouldings.The shutter can be conveniently adjusted by manipulation of the actuating finger within the duct after removing the grille.

A presently preferred form of ceiling diffuser embodying the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the assembled diffuser; Figure 2 is an elevational view of the diffuser as seen in the direction of arrow C in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation taken in the direction of arrow D in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an exploded cross-section taken along the line 44 of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of the diffuser.

The illustrated ceiling diffuser has a casing 1 defining a duct of square cross-section and including an external flange 2 of V-shape section at the outlet end of the duct. The free through flow area of the duct is controllable by a shutter consisting of a series of plastics blades 3: The blades are uniformly spaced apart and extend in parallel between a pair of opposed side walls 4, 5 of the duct. Each blade 3 is provided with a spindle 6, 7 at either end, the spindles passing through the adjacent duct walls to support the blade for rotation about its longitudingal axis. The spindles 7 journalled in the wall 5 also pass through respective slots 8 in a slide element 9.The slots 8 are aligned longitudinally and each has an aperture 10 positioned slightly to one side of it, the apertures associated with adjacent slots being located alternately on opposite sides of the slots.

After passing through the respective slot 8 in the slide element 9, each spindle 7 turns through 90 to provide a lever arm and then turns through a further 90 to extend back upon itself towards the duct and to engage in the aperture 10 associated with the corresponding slot. As a result of this arrangement any longitudinal displacement of the slide element 9 is accompanied by rotation of all the shutter blades with adjacent blades turning in opposite directions.

In addition to passing through the aperture 10 in the slide element, the end of the spindle 7 of the central blade 3 passes through a substantially semicircular slot 11 provided in the duct wall 5 and having a radius centred on the axis of central blade. The end portion of the spindle projecting into the interior of the duct forms an adjustment finger 12. The finger 12 can be manipulated from within the duct and can be moved along the arcuate slot 11 to cause direct rotation of the central blade and rotation of the remaining blades 3 by displacement of the slide element 9, whereby the free through flow area of the duct can be varied and hence the air flow rate regulated.

The blades have a sufficient width for the edges of adjacent blades to come into contact when the shutter is adjusted into a closed position. The shutter is shown in the fully open position in the drawings.

The casing is also formed with opposed inwardly directed projections 13 on the opposed duct walls 4, 5, the projections having a V-shaped cross section and constituting seats for supporting rails 14 of a grille 15. The grille 15 is detachably mounted on the casing at the outlet of the square duct by the rails resting on the seats and, as this is the only engagement between the grille and casing, the grille is readily removed, for example to permit adjustment of the shutter by appropriate control of the finger 12, and replaced.

The casing duct and flange are formed as an integral moulding from synthetic plastics material, such as high impact polystyrene, as is the grille 15. The grille consists of the rails 14, and a pair of diagonal elements 16 which support a plurality of square annular sections 17 of uniformly increasing size, and a central section 18 which is shaped as a hollow pyramid having a square base. The sides of each annular section 17 extend vertically for a short distance and then diverge out outwardly, the inclined portions of adjacent sections overlapping laterally so that when viewed from below the shutter blades cannot be seen. The described grille configuration allows the upper end thereof to be inserted into and supported on the sheats 13 in the duct, but at the same time covers completely the duct outlet opening.Furthermore the diverging passages defined between the grille sections assists in the air distribution by deflecting the air flow laterally. The inner part of the casing flange has the same inclination as the grille sections so that an additional air outlet is defined between the grille and casing.

As seen in Figure 2, a taut, fine wire 20 runs along passing on alternate sides of adjacent blade spindles 7 where they emerge through the slots of the slide element 9. The wire 10 has its ends attached to the slide element 9 and is provided to give a degree of tightness to the blades during adjustment operations.

The described ceiling diffuser can be manufactured in many different sizes, a range of 8 inches to 24 inches for the side length of the duct having been found convenient.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A ceiling diffuser for an air conditioning system, comprising a casing defining a through flow duct of rectangular section, a shutter including a plurality of blades having parallel axes, the blades extending between and journalled in a pair of opposed walls of the duct a slide member mounted on the casing outside the duct and having an actuating finger projecting through a slot in a side wall of the duct, the blades being engaged with the slide member to rotate in unison about their respective axes in response to displacement of the slide member on the casing, whereby to adjust the free through flow area of the duct, and a grille detachably mounted on the casing at the outlet of the duct and arranged to diffuse air flowing through the duct.

2. A ceiling diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the casing and grille are formed as plastics mouldings.

3. A ceiling diffuser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shutter blades are so connected with the slide member that laterally adjacent blades turn in opposite directions.

4. A ceiling diffuser according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the blades are journalled in one of the duct walls by respective spindles which pass through the wall and through respective longitudinally aligned slots in the slide member, the spindles being turned back upon themselves after passing through the slots to engage in respective holes provided in the slide member laterally adjacent the respective slots.

5. A ceiling diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing includes seat abutments which project into the duct, and the grille is arranged to rest on the seat abutments to be supported detachably by the casing.

6. A ceiling diffuser according to any preceding claim, wherein the grille includes a plurality of concentric annular sections arranged to deflect laterally the air flow through the duct.

7. A ceiling diffuser according to claim 6, wherein the grille covers completely the outlet opening of the duct when viewed along the duct axis.

8. A ceiling diffuser for an air conditioning system, substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. position. The shutter is shown in the fully open position in the drawings. The casing is also formed with opposed inwardly directed projections 13 on the opposed duct walls 4, 5, the projections having a V-shaped cross section and constituting seats for supporting rails 14 of a grille 15. The grille 15 is detachably mounted on the casing at the outlet of the square duct by the rails resting on the seats and, as this is the only engagement between the grille and casing, the grille is readily removed, for example to permit adjustment of the shutter by appropriate control of the finger 12, and replaced. The casing duct and flange are formed as an integral moulding from synthetic plastics material, such as high impact polystyrene, as is the grille 15. The grille consists of the rails 14, and a pair of diagonal elements 16 which support a plurality of square annular sections 17 of uniformly increasing size, and a central section 18 which is shaped as a hollow pyramid having a square base. The sides of each annular section 17 extend vertically for a short distance and then diverge out outwardly, the inclined portions of adjacent sections overlapping laterally so that when viewed from below the shutter blades cannot be seen. The described grille configuration allows the upper end thereof to be inserted into and supported on the sheats 13 in the duct, but at the same time covers completely the duct outlet opening.Furthermore the diverging passages defined between the grille sections assists in the air distribution by deflecting the air flow laterally. The inner part of the casing flange has the same inclination as the grille sections so that an additional air outlet is defined between the grille and casing. As seen in Figure 2, a taut, fine wire 20 runs along passing on alternate sides of adjacent blade spindles 7 where they emerge through the slots of the slide element 9. The wire 10 has its ends attached to the slide element 9 and is provided to give a degree of tightness to the blades during adjustment operations. The described ceiling diffuser can be manufactured in many different sizes, a range of 8 inches to 24 inches for the side length of the duct having been found convenient. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A ceiling diffuser for an air conditioning system, comprising a casing defining a through flow duct of rectangular section, a shutter including a plurality of blades having parallel axes, the blades extending between and journalled in a pair of opposed walls of the duct a slide member mounted on the casing outside the duct and having an actuating finger projecting through a slot in a side wall of the duct, the blades being engaged with the slide member to rotate in unison about their respective axes in response to displacement of the slide member on the casing, whereby to adjust the free through flow area of the duct, and a grille detachably mounted on the casing at the outlet of the duct and arranged to diffuse air flowing through the duct.

2. A ceiling diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the casing and grille are formed as plastics mouldings.

3. A ceiling diffuser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shutter blades are so connected with the slide member that laterally adjacent blades turn in opposite directions.

4. A ceiling diffuser according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the blades are journalled in one of the duct walls by respective spindles which pass through the wall and through respective longitudinally aligned slots in the slide member, the spindles being turned back upon themselves after passing through the slots to engage in respective holes provided in the slide member laterally adjacent the respective slots.

5. A ceiling diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing includes seat abutments which project into the duct, and the grille is arranged to rest on the seat abutments to be supported detachably by the casing.

6. A ceiling diffuser according to any preceding claim, wherein the grille includes a plurality of concentric annular sections arranged to deflect laterally the air flow through the duct.

7. A ceiling diffuser according to claim 6, wherein the grille covers completely the outlet opening of the duct when viewed along the duct axis.

8. A ceiling diffuser for an air conditioning system, substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.