GB2202322A

GB2202322A - Hot air recirculation system

Info

Publication number: GB2202322A
Application number: GB08627321A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Alfred Forbes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-14
Filing date: 1986-11-14
Publication date: 1988-09-21
Also published as: GB8627321D0

Abstract

A hot air recirculation system comprises a motorised fan unit (11) installed in an open-ended tubular housing (10) suspended at a high level in a building structure. A flexible duct (14) depends from the housing (10) to allow recirculated warmer air to be directed to selected regions at lower levels in the building structure. <IMAGE>

Description

HOT AIR RECIRCULATION SYSTEM This invention relates to a system for recirculating hot air in a building structure, e.g. a factory or warehouse, in order to save fuel and reduce the heat loading of heat generators servicing the building structure.

Such a system is described in my British Patent Specification 2,138,934. However this type of system generally requires a permanent installation which is not readily adaptable to meet specific requirements for directing heat and also to avoid low level obstruction to the movement of personnel, fork lift trucks or other goods moving and stacking devices.

The invention seeks to provide a hot air recirculation system which reduces or avoids the abovementioned disadvantages of permanently installed systems.

The invention provides a hot air recirculation system comprising a tubular housing open at each end thereof, means located in the housing to create a flow of air therethrough, means to suspend the housing from an upper part of a building structure, and a flexible duct adapted to be secured to the housing to form an extension thereof to direct warm air flowing through the housing to selected lower regions of the building structure.

The housing can be, in use, suspended from a high level roof structure supporting member in a generally vertical disposition. The suspension means may be in the form of chain linkages secured to appropriate attachment points provided at the upper end of the housing. An upper end portion of the duct may be secured about a lower end portion of the housing, e.g. by a retaining band. The duct is preferably made of a plastics material, e.g. a flexible extruded tube made of Nylon of an appropriate light gauge.

The invention includes a system according to the invention installed in a building structure with said housing suspended in a generally vertical position at a relatively high level of the building structure, and the ducting extending downwardly therefrom towards the floor of the building structure.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of a hot air recirculation system embodying the invention located in a factory or warehouse.

Referring to the drawing,. a hot air recirculating system according to the invention comprises a housing in the form of short length metal sleeve 10 preferably of circular section. A motorised fan unit 11, appropriately supplied with electrical energy, is located in the sleeve 10. The sleeve, which is open at each end, is suspended in a generally vertical disposition from a roof beam 12 by a plurality of chain linkages 13 passing over the roof beam and secured at their ends to attachment means, e.g. hooks, provided at positions appropriately spaced around the upper end of the sleeve 10.

A ducting 14, in the form of a length of flexible extruded Nylon tubing of an appropriate light gauge, is fitted over the lower end of the sleeve 10 and secured thereto by an encircling, securing band 15.

The ducting 14 extends downwardly from the sleeve 10 to a preferred height above floor level so as to direct hot air drawn through the sleeve 10 by the fan 11, to lower level locations to obtain the most beneficial operating conditions.

When the fan is operating, it induces a flow of hot air, which accumulates within the roof structure 15, into and through the flexible ducting 14 which directs it downwardly to colder ground level regions of the building structure. The ducting 14 being flexible, and generally transparent, will enable it to be positioned to direct heat precisely where -it is most required as well as avoiding it being a permanent low level obstruction to movement of personnel and goods handling equipment. The positioning of the fan housing can also be readily altered as required and indeed it can be more readily installed in building structures than previously proposed fixed installations.

The reduction of high level temperatures against the roof will decrease heat losses and increase the thermal insulating efficiency of any insulation roof lining applied in accordance with the relevant standards.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hot air recirculation system for a building structure, comprising a tubular housing open at each end thereof, means located in the housing to create a flow of air therethrough, means to suspend the housing from an upper part of a building structure, and a flexible duct adapted to be secured to the housing to form an extension thereof to direct warm air flowing through the housing to selected lower regions of the building structure.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said flow creating means comprises a fan and motor unit mounted in the housing.

3. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the suspension means is in the form of chain linkages secured to appropriate attachment points provided at the upper end of the housing.

4. A system as claimed in any of Claims 1-3, wherein an upper end portion of the duct is secured about a lower end portion of the housing.

5. A system as claimed in Claim 4 wherein a retaining band encircles said upper end portion of the duct to secure it to the housing.

6. A hot air recirculation system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A building structure having a hot air recirculation system as claimed in any of Claims 1-6 installed therein with said housing suspended in a generally vertical position at a relatively high level of the building structure, and the ducting extending downwardly therefrom towards the floor of the building structure.

8. A building structure as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the building structure is provided with a thermally insulated roof lining.

9. A method of recirculating warmer air in a building structure comprising installing in the building structure a system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 with said housing suspended in a generally vertical position at a relatively high level of the building structure and the ducting extending downwardly therefrom, and adjusting the position of the lower end of the ducting to direct the recirculated warmer air to selected regions at a relatively lower level in the building structure.

10. A method of recirculating warmer air in a building structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. The combination of a building structure and a hot air recirculation system installed therein, the combination being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.