GB2033074A

GB2033074A - Apparatus for controlling the delivery of air into rooms to be ventilated and/or air conditioned

Info

Publication number: GB2033074A
Application number: GB7930989A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Colt International Ltd
Current assignee: Colt International Ltd
Priority date: 1978-09-30
Filing date: 1979-09-06
Publication date: 1980-05-14
Also published as: BE879133A; CH634907A5; ZA795168B; DE2842727A1

Abstract

To ensure the forceful downward penetration of warm air into the room the air discharge takes place through a bottom opening (7'), and room air is induced to recirculate and mix with the fresh air through lateral openings (8', 9') which are partially blocked by flaps (13', 14'), as indicated by arrows (32'). When cooler air is to be blown into the room, in order to avoid draughts, the air discharge is diverted, and slowed, by adjusting the flaps (13', 14') to close the opening (7'). The flaps (13', 14') then divert the air smoothly through the openings (8', 9') doubling the through flow cross-section. In a modification, the lateral opening(s) (8', 9') are formed in the walls of duct (1') upstream of an air distributing device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in apparatus for controlling the delivery of air into rooms to be ventilated and/or air conditioned The invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the delivery of air from a ventilating duct into a room to be ventilated and/or air conditioned.

In known apparatuses of this kind flaps or louvres or a grating or the like is associated directly with the discharge opening of the ventilating duct to direct the air flow as required. This must satisfy all operating conditions, particularly different discharge temperatures of the supply air and it has been found unsatisfactory for a wide temperature range of air delivered to the room, due to the creation of draughts on the one hand and due to a need to direct warm air forcefully downwardly to obtain a desired depth of penetration of the air into the room.

The present invention aims to provide a remedy by means of apparatus comprising a duct end section having at least one lateral ventilating opening in its wall with which there is associated a control flap one for each opening, the control flap or flaps being adjustable each between a first position in which it at least partially blocks its associated lateral ventilation opening and a second position in which it guides air flowing along the duct through the opening.

A duct end section in accordance with the invention may have its duct end opening directed vertically downwards in the conventional fashion, the duct end section being coupled to discharge into an air guide hood of conventional form.

In this case, the control flap or flaps may block the duct end section when in their second position.

A duct end section according to the invention may have a central ventilating opening for the direct discharge of ventilating air, vertically downwards, and lateral ventilating openings disposed one at each side of the central ventilating opening with a discharge direction extending at an angle to the discharge direction of the central ventilating opening.

A duct end section in accordance with the invention has, or provides, a selection of ventilating openings which may be used depending on the discharge temperature of the supply air for its delivery to the room to be ventilated or air conditioned, in such a manner that a ventilation opening with a discharge direction extending vertically downwards, or at an angle downwards, may be used for elevated supply-air temperatures, that is to say for heating conditions for the room to be air conditioned, while with lower supply-air temperatures, that is to say under cooling conditions for the room to be ventilated or air conditioned, the lateral ventilating opening or openings may be used for the delivery of the supply air either horizontally or at a more shallow angle downwards.

Furthermore, during transition times, that is to say with average discharge temperatures of the supply air, any desired distribution of the flow paths of the supply air and air amounts may be effected through all the ventilating openings by adjusting the control flap or flaps to a mid position. Substantially equal crosssectional areas of passage can be used for the lateral ventilating openings and the duct end opening.

Where the duct end opening is provided with a hood, the hood may have one or more further air discharge openings provided with fixed flaps or louvres or a grating for directing air in desired directions, e.g. vertically downwardly or downwardly at an inclined angle in known fashion per se, and this applies equally to ventilating openings provided directly in a duct end section according to this invention.

If the supply air in a heating operation is only blown through the duct end opening, or the central ventilating opening, e.g. for discharge vertically downwards, it leaves the duct through a comparatively small opening cross-section and flows with correspondingly increased velocity downwards. As a result, the supply air reaches the necessary depth of penetration into the room, and draught phenomena are not to be feared because of the elevated temperature of the air being blown into the room. In contrast, when cooler air is blown out through lateral ventilating openings, the cross-sectional area of passage of the air may be substantially increased so that there is a correspondingly reduced velocity of the supply air which avoids draughts, particularly as the lateral ventilating openings have a discharge direction which extends horizontally.

The dimensions of the control flap or flaps and the cross-sectional areas of lateral openings or openings may be such that the flap or flaps only partially block the lateral opening or openings when in their first position. In this case, when heated supply air is blown through the duct end opening or the central ventilating opening, a certain amount or room air is induced to flow into the duct end section through the lateral opening or openings to mix with the supply air. As a result, the discharge temperature of the supply air is reduced and the depth of penetration of the supply air into the room is increased so that, altogether, the warm air circulation in the occupied zone of the room is improved.

Where an air guide hood is provided on the discharge end of a duct end section of the invention, the hood may be provided with pivotally mounted guide vanes which may be interconnected with the control flaps for joint adjustment therewith.

These and further features of the invention will become clear from a consideration of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention, described by way of example and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through an apparatus in accordance with the invention shown in an operating position for blowing cool supply air into a room to be ventilated or air conditioned, Figure 2 is a cross-section corresponding to Fig. 1 adjusted for heating the room, Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 of a further apparatus in accordance with the invention, and Figure 4 is a view of the apparatus of Fig. 3 adjusted for heating the room.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings, and first to Figs. 1 and 2, a vertical duct end section is illustrated at 1, which has a rectangular or square cross-section and ends in a duct end opening 2. The duct end opening 2 is situated in a plane parallel with the ceiling of the room to be ventilated or air conditioned and downwardly in relation to the ceiling. Connected to the opening 2 is an air guide hood 3 of conventional style having fixed gratings 10 for the discharge of air downwardly into the room. In the present example, there are two gratings 10 at inclined angles but there may be a single vertically downwardly directed grating set horizontally immediately opposite the duct end opening 2.

The air guide hood 3 is secured to the lower end of the duct end section 1 in a suitable manner by an upper encircling flange 4 of its housing 5. The flange 4 defines an air inlet 6 corresponding with the duct end opening 2.

Formed in opposite side walls of the duct end section 2 are two ventilating openings 7 and 8 which may be provided with gratings like the gratings 10. The discharge direction of the two lateral ventilating openings 7 and 8 extends substantially horizontally as indicated in Fig. 1 by the arrows 12.

Associated with the ventilating openings 7 and 8 are two control flaps 1 3 and 14 which are secured to opposite side walls of the duct end section 1 for pivoting each about a horizontal axis 1 5 disposed along the horizontal downstream edge of the associated opening.

The two control flaps 1 3 and 14 are adjustable jointly by means of an adjusting drive 20 indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. The adjusting drive 20 which may be actuated by hand or may also comprise an electric motor or pressure fluid cylinder, is operationally connected, in the example illustrated, to a central bell-crank lever 22 which is pivotable about a horizontal axis 21, and pivoted to each of the two ends of which is a connecting rod 23, 24 which is pivoted at its other end to the associated control flap 1 3 or 14.

In the first position of the control flaps 13 and 14 as shown in Fig. 1 in which cool air is blown into the room to be ventilated or air conditioned, the control flaps 1 3 and 14 jointly close the duct end opening 2. The free edges 1 7 of the control flaps 1 3 and 14 then bearing against one another. As can be seen from Fig. 1, in the position in which they close the duct end opening 2, the control flaps 1 3 and 14 expose the full through flow area of the lateral ventilating openings 7 and 8.Thus, cool air being blown along the ventilating duct 1 impinges on the control flaps 13, 14 and leaves the duct through the two lateral ventilating openings 7 and 8 in the direction of the arrows 1 2. The control flaps, because of their inclined position as illustrated, cause a low-loss deflection of the air towards the two lateral ventilating openings 7 and 8 respectively.

In the position for heating operation shown in Fig. 2, the control flaps 1 3 and 14 have been moved by means of the adjusting drive 20 into their second position in which they only partially block the lateral openings 7 and 8. Thus, portions of the openings 7 and 8 upstream of the edges 1 7 of the flaps remain uncovered. As a result, the jet of air passing downwardly between the control flaps 1 3 and 14 induces a certain amount of air from the room to flow inwardly through the upper edge portions of the openings 7 and 8 as indicated by the arrows 32. Therefore, room air is mixed with the fresh air emerging at an elevated temperature from the gratings 10 and being directed downwardly into the room.

By appropriate control of the adjusting drive 20, all positions of the flaps 1 3 and 14 between the first and second positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, can be effected continuously. It is thus possible, by means of the adjusting drive 20, to pivot the control flaps about their pivot axes 1 5 to regulate the amount of air directed through the openings 7 and 8, the remaining air being directed through the duct end opening 2 and the hood.

The control flaps 13 and 14 may completely close the openings 7 and 8 when in their second position.

Gratings such as 10, provided in association with the openings 7 and 8 may have adjustable air guide laminations manually rotatable each about a longitudinal horizontally extending axis.

Alternatively, the laminations may be adjustable via an electric drive motor or via a pneumatic cylinder. In a similar fashion, controllable or manually adjustable air guide ;rni- nations may be provided in association wit,.

the air discharge opening or openings in the hood.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, in this case the duct end section forms the air guide hoou directly.

The vertical end region of a ventilating duct is illustrated at 1', having a rectangular or square cross-sectioned discharge opening 2'.

In this case the discharge opening 2' may be situated in a common plane with the ceiling of the room to be ventilated or air conditioned.

Connected to the discharge opening 2' is a duct end section formed as an air guide hood and designated as a whole by 3'. This has the cross-sectional shape shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and extends the discharge opening 2' into the room to be ventilated or air conditioned. For this purpose, the air guide hood 3' is secured to the edge of the discharge opening 2' in a suitable manner by an upper encircling flange 4' of its housing 5'. The flange 4' defines an air inlet 6' of the air guide hood 3'.

Formed in the housing 5' of the air guide hood 3' are three adjacent ventilating openings 7', 8' and 9' which are all provided with adjustable air guide laminations 10' which, in the example illustrated, are manually rotatable and adjustable about a longitudinal axis. Instead of this, the air guide laminations 10' may also be adjustable by means of an electric motor or by means of a pressure fluid cylinder. Furthermore, a horizontal or vertical arrangement of the air guide laminations 10' is possible. The central ventilating opening 7' lies in a horizontal plane below the inlet 6' of the housing 5' and has a discharge direction extending vertically downwards as indicated in Fig. 4 by the arrows 11'. The two lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9' are disposed at an angle of about 45 to the central ventilating opening 7' in the example illustrated.The discharge direction of the two lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9' extends correspondingly obliquely downwards as indicated in Fig.

3 by the arrows 12'.

Associated with the ventilating openings 7', 8' and 9' are two control flaps 13' and 14' which are secured to opposite edges of the central ventilating opening 7' for pivoting each about a horizontal axis 15' between opposite end walls 16' of the air guide hood 3', in its housing 5'. The control flaps 13' and 14' are bent at an angle at their opposite edges 17' extending parallel to the pivot axis 15' and are each provided, at the two edges extending transversely thereto, with opposite mounting plates 18' of the shape shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which each carry, with spacing above the upper face of the control flaps 13', 14', a guide plate 19'.Each guide plate 19' is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the associated control flap 13' or 14' and participates in pivotal movements of the control flaps 13' and 14' without altering its position in relation to these in the example illustrated.

The two control flaps 13' and 14' are adjustable jointly by means of an adjusting drive 20' indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 3.

The adjusting drive 20' which may be actuated by hand or may also comprise an electric motor or pressure fluid cylinder, is operationally connected, in the example illustrated, to a central bell-crank lever 22' which is pivotable about a horizontal axis 21' and pivoted to each of the two ends of which is a connecting rod 23', 24' which is pivoted at its other end to the associated control flap 13' or 14', for example, on one of the mounting plates 18', near the pivot axis 15'.

Furthermore, the air guide hood 3' is provided, in its region adjacent to the discharge opening 2', with two opposite guide vanes 25' and 26' which are each pivoted on the end walls 16' of the housing 5' of the air guide hood 3' about a horizontal axis 28' by means of triangular mounting plates 27' at their ends. To enable their common adjustment with the flaps 13', 14', the guide vanes 25', 26' are connected through connecting rods 29', 30' to the flaps 13', 14', In the operating position of the air guide hood 3', as shown in Fig. 3, in which cool air is blown into the room to be ventilated or air conditioned, the control flaps 13' and 14' jointly close the lower, central ventilating opening 7', the then vertical edges 1 7' of the control flaps 13' and 1 4' bearing against one another.When the control flaps 13' and 14' are pivoted by means of the central adjusting drive 20', the guide plates 19' which are rigidly connected to the control flaps 13' and 14' and the guide vanes 25' and 26' which are connected to the control flaps 13' and 14' through the connecting rods 29', 30' are, in turn, moved into the position shown in Fig. 3.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, in the position in which they close the ventilating opening 7', the control flaps 13' and 14' guide the air towards the lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9'. Thus, cool air from the ventilating duct 1', enters the air inlet 6' of the air guide hood 3', as illustrated by arrows 31' and leaves the hood through the two lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9' obliquely downwards in accordance with the arrows 12'. The guide plates 19', the guide vanes 25' and 26' together with the flaps 1 3', 1 4', cause a low-loss deflection of the air towards the two lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9'.

In the position for heating operation shown in Fig. 4, the control flaps 13' and 14' have been moved by means of the adjusting drive 20' into their open position in relation to the central ventilating opening 7', and, together with the flaps 13', 14', the guide plates 19' and the guide vanes 25' and 26' have been moved into the position shown in Fig. 4. In the present example, the control flaps 13' and 14', in their open position with respect to the central ventilating opening 7' as shown in Fig.

4, only partially block the openings 8' and 9'.

Furthermore, in the position shown in Fig. 4, the guide plates 19' and the guide vanes 25' and 26' also partially block the ventilating openings 8' and 9'. The control flaps 13' and 14', when swung open with respect to the central ventilating opening 7', and the upper guide vanes 25' and 26' when pivoted jointly with them, form a venturi-shaped channel inside the air guide hood 3'. As a result, the stream of air passing through this channel induces a certain amount of air to flow from the room being heated, through the air guide hood 3', as a result of the fact that the lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9' are not completely blocked during a heating operation.As indicated by the arrows 32', therefore, environmental air is mixed with the fresh air emerging at an elevated temperature from the discharge opening 2' of the ventilating duct 1', so that warm mixed air is delivered into the room from the lower central ventilating opening 7'.

By appropriate control of the adjusting drive 20', all flap positions between the two positions illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 can be effected continuously. It is further possible, by means of the adjusting drive 20', to pivot the upper guide vanes 25' and 26' additionally about their pivot axes 28' and to adjust them so that the throat dimension of the venturitube like channel is reduced or increased. By this means, the amount of re-circulated air induced to flow in from the room can be regulated.

It is further possible to make the lateral housing portions 33', which bound the lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9' at the top, pivotable, for example about a central horizontal axis parallel to the pivot axes 15' and 28'.

With such a construction, it is possible, in the operating position of Fig. 3, for the heating of the room to be air-conditioned, to pivot the housing portions 33' downwards and inwards so that, together with the control flaps 13' and 14' or their guide plates 19', they completely close the lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9' and, at the same time, form housing openings above the closed lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9' for the induction of room air. Such pivotable lateral housing portions 33' may appropriately also be connected to the control flaps 13' and 14' and/or the guide vanes 25' and 26' through suitable linkages for common adjustment.

In the example of Figs. 3 and 4, the lower ventilating opening 7' has a smaller through flow cross-section than the lateral ventilating openings 8' and 9' considered separately, which may be desirable, depending on the room conditions, in order to achieve a higher air discharge velocity of heated air in the operating position of Fig. 3.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of air from a ventilating duct into a room to be ventilated and/or air conditioned, comprising a duct end section having at least one lateral ventilating opening in its wall with which there is associated a control flap one for each opening, the control flap or flaps being adjustable each between a first position in which it at least partially blocks its associated lateral ventilation opening and a second position in which it guides air flowing along the duct through the opening.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the control flap or flaps block the duct end section when in their second position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the duct end section has a central ventilating opening for the direct discharge of ventilating air, vertically downwards, and lateral ventilating openings disposed one at each side of the central ventilating opening with a discharge direction extending at an angle to the discharge direction of the central ventilating opening.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the two lateral ventilating openings have a discharge direction extending obliquely downwards and directed away from the central ventilating opening.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which two control flaps are provided which are pivotally secured to opposite edges of the central ventilating opening and which, in their second position, close the central ventilating opening and open the two lateral ventilating openings.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the two control flaps, in their first position, only partially block the lateral ventilating openings.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, in which the duct end section is provided, in its upstream end region, with two opposite, pivotally mounted guide vanes.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the guide vanes are connected to the control flaps for common adjustment.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, in which each control flap carries a guide plate spaced above the control flap in a plane substantially parallel to the control flap.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9, in which the lateral ventilating openings are bounded at the upper side by duct end portions which are pivotable each about a horizontal axis.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the pivotable housing portions are connected to the control flaps and/or the guide vanes for common adjustment.

1 2. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 11, in which the central ventilating opening has a reduced through flow area in comparison with the two lateral ventilatins openings.

1 3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 3 to 12, in which both the central ventilating opening and the later' ventilating openings are provided with adjustable air-guide laminations.

14. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of air from a ventilating duct into a room to be ventilated and/or air conditioned, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.