GB2307739A

GB2307739A - Air conditioning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2307739A
Application number: GB9521361A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-17
Filing date: 1995-10-17
Publication date: 1997-06-04
Also published as: GB9521361D0

Abstract

The air conditioning apparatus is able to recirculate warm air contained in the highest space of a room or is able to draw in air which has been cooled by passage over heat sinks (eg a cavity wall or bricks under the floor). The apparatus comprises a housing (9) containing an electric fan and a directional two-way flap valve (1). Hot or cold or a mixture of hot/cold air may be supplied to the room.

Description

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS This invention relates to an energy efficient cooling and heat distribution system for domestic rooms and other enclosed space In particular the invention provides a method and apparatus that can recirculate warm air trapped under the ceiling of a room or in the highest space of a room or enclosed space, equally, the method and apparatus can also provide cool air for room or other enclosed space cooling without the use of known prior art chilled air cooling provided by refrigeration systems and apparatus.

Small air conditioning systems are relatively expensive, particularly as the need for them each summer in the United Kingdom is short and uncertain. Portable air conditioning units are usually imported and need to be ordered by suppliers and hirers long before summer begins. The commercial risk that the British summer will not be hot enough to warrant their use has made the availability of small air conditioning units when required to be uncertain.

Small air conditioning units usually produce only cold air which limits their usefulness in the United Kingdom to a few weeks of the year. The imported units are designed for hotter conditions than what normally prevail in the temperate British climate.

It was seen that the need for cooling in an average British summer could be provided by cheaper and simpler means other than by air cooled by refrigeration and that the added benefit of improved heating efficiency in colder months could also be provided by the same apparatus.

Heating a room or similar enclosed space is an ever increasing cost. The fact that heat rises to the highest level in a confined space is wasteful and inefficient as it's warming effect cannot be felt at the level of normal activity for occupants of the room or space. The trapped air will slowly circulate but only after losing heat through walls, windows and the roof will it cool enough to descend down the walls.

By reclaiming warm air lost to the highest parts of an enclosed space heating costs can be reduced. The effect of circulating the warm air is that more effective use can be made of the heat generated by the existing heat source. The re-circulated warm air will assist the heating of the lower area in the enclosed space thus enabling temperature sensing heating controllers to remain in off mode for longer periods than would be the case without re-circulation.In addition to this, the periods in which the existing heating system is required to be activated throughout a year may be reduced as acceptable levels of background heating may be provided by circulating heat generated by lighting, televisions, computers, machines and human occupation Prior art portable air conditioning equipment usually produce large amounts of water in use, this requires awareness and regular emptying of the catchment container by the user of such equipment. Some servicing of the equipment is also required.

Portable units do not remove air from the room or enclosed space to be cooled but simply cool the air passing through the unit. The heat removed from the air passing through the unit is dissipated back into the room or enclosed space again by the refrigeration part of the apparatus, no new air is introduced to force out used warm air from the room or enclosed space.

Water is not produced by this present invention described herein, the apparatus requires little or no maintenance and has very low electrical running costs, further the method and apparatus propels new cool air into the room or enclosed space thereby displacing used warm air.

When the present invention is set to circulate warm air by manual control of the air valve shutter later described herein, at the discretion of the user a small amount of fresh air may be introduced into the warm air flow through the apparatus.

This slight adjustment of the shutter setting will give effect to some degree of humidity control for the environment of the room or enclosed space at the expense of slight cooling of the warm air flowing through the apparatus.

The installation of prior art small fixed air conditioning units entails some removal of masonry from the structure of the building. The installation of the invention described herein requires only a small number of relatively small holes to be drilled in the fabric of the building, the drilling means for appropriate size holes is known and readily available to the building trade for other installation usage.

Some versions of the said invention do not require holes in the fabric of the building other than that required to effect fastening to an appropriate wall inside the room or enclosed space to be serviced by the apparatus.

Prior art air conditioning systems use refrigeration means for cooling air, this is a relatively expensive means to achieve a supply of cold air, it was seen that a cavity wall could be incorporated into the invention to supply cold air. The air valve of the present invention could be connected into the cavity of a cavity wall building structure wherein air drawn through the cavity would be cooled by contact with the inner and outer wall masonry that forms the cavity wall structure and that suitably positioned air bricks or other ventilation means could be provided in the absence of such bricks or ventilation means in order to promote the longest route for the passage of air from outside the building structure to the air propulsion means of the invention.

It was also seen that underfloor masonry and other material could perform a similar service in cooling air in contact with it, said masonry and other material being the base of walls, foundations, masonry piers supporting floors, base concrete, soil, masonry rubble, with grass, soil, masonry rubble and concrete hard standings providing the cooling means for the said invention when installed in caravans, mobile homes and static on site caravans. Most of the above materials would be in a damp state and as such would be even better able to perform the service of cooling air in contact with them.

The above stated method of cooling air is embodied in the two preferred options for cooled air supply means provided by the method and apparatus of the said invention.

In the absence of the said preferred options for cooling air the method and apparatus is provided with options in design and method to allow other supply process means for cold air. It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention as described above without departing from the concept of the invention as broadly described. It will also be recognised that by following the concept of the invention many more people will be able to enjoy the benefit of air conditioning than would otherwise be the case by more expensive and complex means.

According to the present invention there is provided air conditioning apparatus comprising an electric fan secured inside an enclosure or body configured in the general form of a box, said enclosure may vary in shape, size and proportion according to the design and location of the apparatus. The said fan is configured to extract air from the said enclosure and propel said air through an aperture in said enclosure into a room or other enclosed space to be serviced by the invention.

Air can only enter the said enclosure by first passing through an air entry route selection means in the form of a two position valve. The said valve is configured to provide an entry route into the said enclosure for warm air when set in one position or an entry route for cold air when set in the alternative position. The said two way valve may also be set in any position between the warm air and cold air route positions in order to allow a mixture of warm and cold air to be drawn into the enclosure by the said fan. The said two position valve is provided with inlets that can be conveniently connected to the warm and cold air supply means. For some versions of this invention only warm air circulation may be required, in this case the provision of the two position valve would be unnecessary. In the case of cold air only being required from the invention the provision of the two position valve would be desirable in order to close off the cold air supply means when not required.

The warm air supply means for the present invention comprises a vertical duct extended from the said two position valve or in the case of a warm air only version, directly from the top of the said enclosure to the layer of warm air that accumulates at the highest point of a room or other enclosed space. The said duct, regardless of how it is configured, disguised or outwardly designed not to conflict with the decorative appearance of the room or enclosed space in which the invention is installed being well insulated against heat loss from the warm air passing through it.The ideal efficiency being that the temperature of the warm air drawn in at the top of the duct equals the temperature of the air propelled out of the said enclosure by the said fan means, anything less than this said ideal efficiency lessons the effectiveness of the said invention to return warm air to a lower level in the said room or enclosed space. It is essential for the effectiveness of the invention that warm or cold air is propelled horizontally into the enclosed space that is to be serviced by the invention.

Warm air that is not propelled with sufficient velocity into the said area to be serviced will not mix with and augment the existing warm air but will simply move back vertically to the highest level again, to where it's warming effect is lost to occupants of the said room or enclosed space.

The cold air supply means for the present invention comprises a number of optional methods. One preferred option being that the air supply control valve of the said invention is connected by way of a duct to the cavity of an adjacent cavity wall building structure wherein air drawn through the said cavity would be cooled by contact with the inner and outer wall masonry that forms the cavity walled building structure. It being desirable for the said air drawn through the said cavity to follow the longest convenient route through the said cavity.

To meet this aim cavity ventilation means may be provided in the outer leaf of the said cavity wall at a point as low as possible but above ground level. Said ventilation means may comprise an air brick or other prior art cavity ventilation means. Another preferred option for cold air supply means requires the air supply control valve of the present invention to be connected by way of a duct to the underfloor space beneath a ground floor room or enclosed space. Said underfloor space being normally found under a wooden floor of a ground floor room or enclosed space or the space beneath caravans, mobile homes and static on site caravans.Air drawn from said underfloor space being cooled by contact with masonry and other materials that are normally found in and around the said underfloor space, said masonry and materials being the base of walls, foundations, masonry piers that support floors, base concrete, soil, masonry rubble, with grass, soil, masonry rubble and concrete hard standings providing the air cooling means for said caravans, mobile homes and static on site caravans.

Other options for cold air supply means include the following cold air source options, the use of such options largely depending on the structure of the room or enclosed space to be serviced by the invention. Said options are as follows: The connection of the air supply control valve by way of a duct through the wall structure to an external cold air supply means or the connection of the said air supply control valve by way of a duct through the wall structure to the outside environment or the connection of the said air supply control valve by way of a duct to the layer of cold air supported by the floor of the room or enclosed space to be serviced by the invention or the connection of the said air supply control valve by way of a duct to the layer of cold air supported by the masonry floor of a room or enclosed space, said masonry providing cooling for the cold air layer passing over it as said cold air layer is drawn into the said duct of the invention.

All the above said ducts that traverse through masonry are in the form of drilled holes, some may be lined with a suitable material to prevent the influx of dust. The said drilled holes are of relatively small size compared with known prior art forms of ducting. The advantages of said drilled holes being that very little disruption and mess is caused when installing the invention, also any damage to the wall structure, strength and appearance is minimal when compared to the installation of prior art fixed air conditioning apparatus in which large amounts of masonry are removed to provide free passage for air blown into the area to be serviced. A significant difference in principal exists between the present invention and known prior art fixed air conditioning systems.In the present invention air is blown into the area to be serviced after being drawn into the enclosure or body of the invention. The action of said fan provides a low pressure area within the enclosure of the invention, said low pressure area being constantly filled by atmospheric pressure accelerating air through the small ducts to fill the low pressure created by the action of the said fan.

By this principal ducts of large dimension are unnecessary as the required volume of air is accelerated through the said ducts by atmospheric pressure. Prior art fixed air conditioning systems are installed outside the masonry comprising the walls of the space to be serviced and cannot propel sufficient volume of cold air through small bore ducts but must blow the cold air in sufficient volume at low pressure freely through a large duct into the enclosed space to be serviced, such installations require the removal of masonry to provide a route for the said large duct.

Any one of or combination of the warm and cold air supply means previously described may be incorporated into the apparatus of the present invention. In the case of apparatus comprising the invention configured to provide optionally warm or cold air supply, a two chamber air supply control valve is provided enabling air flow control means into the low pressure area situated inside the enclosure, said air flow being selected by way of a two way valve, said valve may be configured as a movable shutter or other means of manually selecting air flow from the warm or cold air chambers. The essential function of the two chamber valve being to provide a simple and convenient means of connection to the warm and cold air supply means for the apparatus and a manually operated warm or cold air selection means.In the case of apparatus configured to provide cold air only a single chamber valve is all that is necessary in order to provide convenient connections for the said cold air supply means and to manually close off the supply means when not required.

Vertical cold or warm air ducts may be as long or as short as necessary to carry out the function of the said ducts, the hight of the vertical warm air duct being decided by entry of said duct into the warm air trapped in the highest parts of an enclosed space. In the case of the cold air supply chamber of the apparatus being connected to the cold air supply means by vertical duct, the lenght of said duct being decided by the hight of the cold air supply chamber above floor level. With floor mounted enclosures containing the said cold air supply chamber the vertical length of the duct will only be that necessary to connect said cold air supply chamber to openings in the floor connecting to the underfloor space or to the layer of cold air supported by the floor of the room or enclosed space to be serviced.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to accompanying drawings.

Examples show the optional connections to the warm and cold air supply means. The examples also show methods of warm or cold air selection from the warm or cold air chambers of the two position valve embodied in the invention.

The two position valve shown in Figure 1 comprising a movable shutter is used as a clear example. Other methods of controlling the air flow from the warm and cold air chambers may be incorporated into the design of the apparatus such as sliding shutters or a rotating disc valve, the essential feature being that the warm or cold air chambers may be opened or closed as required for appropriate air flow to the fan.

Figure 1 shows in perspective, air conditioning apparatus with a two position valve set for cold air supply. The cold air chamber is provided with optional inlets in the base and back of the chamber. The upper warm air chamber is provided with an inlet at the top of the chamber. The position of a fan in the enclosure is shown as a grill at the front of the enclosure.

Figure 2 shows the apparatus installed at a suitable hight to enable the apparatus to draw in warm air trapped at the highest part of an enclosed space without the use of ducting. With the two position valve set as shown the apparatus is also able to draw cold air from the wall cavity.

Figure 3 shows the apparatus ducted to supply cold air only from the wall cavity. The two position valve can be set to close off the cold air supply from the cavity when cold air is not required.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus ducted to the underfloor cold air supply means. The two position valve can be set to close off the cold air supply means when not required in winter.

Figure 5 shows the apparatus ducted to collect cold air from the lowest point in a room or enclosed space. The two position valve is not necessary for this cold air supply means.

Figure 6 shows the apparatus ducted to supply cold air from the wall cavity. For warm air re-circulation ducting is shown configured to draw warm air from the highest parts of an enclosed space when the two position valve is set for re-circulation.

Figure 7 shows the apparatus ducted to supply cold air from outside the enclosed space. For warm air re-circulation ducting is shown configured to draw warm air from the highest parts of an enclosed space when the two position valve is set for recirculation.

Figure 8 shows the apparatus ducted to the underfloor cold air supply means. For warm air re-circulation ducting is shown configured to draw warm air from above a false ceiling when the two position valve is set for re-circulation.

Figure 9 shows the apparatus ducted to collect cold air from the lowest point in a room or enclosed space.

For warm air re-circulation ducting is shown configured to draw warm air from the highest parts of an enclosed space when the two position valve is set for re-circulation.

Figure 10 shows the apparatus ducted by way of a column to collect cold air from the lowest point in a room or enclosed space. Warm air for re-circulation is drawn in at the top of the column when the two way valve is set for re-circulation.

The column may also contain other services such as power and computer cables for a desk or workstation.

Figure 11 shows the apparatus ducted by way of a column to collect cold air from the underfloor cold air supply means.

Warm air for re-circulation is drawn in at the top of the column situated above a false ceiling when the two position valve is set for recirculation. The column may also contain other services such as power and computer cables for a desk or workstation.

Figure 12 shows the apparatus ducted by way of a column to the highest parts of a caravan, a mobile home or a static on site caravan, warm air is re-circulated when the two position valve is set for re-circulation. Cold air is drawn from the underfloor cold air supply means when the two position valve is set to close off warm air re-circulation.

Figure 13 shows the apparatus ducted to draw air from the underfloor cold air supply means of a caravan, a mobile home or a static on site caravan. The two position valve is required only to close off the cold air duct in winter.

Figure 14 shows the apparatus ducted to re-circulate warm air from the highest parts of a caravan, a mobile home or a static on site caravan. Cold air is drawn from above floor level when the two position valve is set to close off warm air recirculation.

Referring to the drawings the air conditioning apparatus comprises enclosure 9 fitted with an electric fan. Within the the enclosure 9 is also a two position valve, when the valve shutter 1 is in the position shown in Figure 1, air is drawn into the enclosure 9 via the lower cold air chamber 2 and either of the optional cold air duct connections 4 or 5 With the shutter 1 in the lower position, thus closing off the cold air chamber 2 air is then drawn from the warm air chamber 3 which in turn is supplied with warm air from inlet 6 . Warm air inlet 6 being connected to warm air duct 7 which is configured to reclaim warm air trapped at the highest levels of a room or enclosed space.

The warm air chamber 3 can be connected to the layer of warm air by way of a duct 7 or the apparatus can be mounted in or just below the warm air layer, as shown in Figure 2, thus enabling the apparatus to collect warm air directly through the warm air inlet 6 at the top of the warm air chamber 3.

For cold air supply the apparatus may use one of a number of options. Cold air may be drawn from within a wall cavity 10 into the cold air chamber 2 via the cold air inlets 5 situated at the back of chamber 2. Air flow through the wall cavity 10 is maintained by the presence of an air brick 11 positioned in the outer wall leaf, as far as possible from the apparatus.

If the apparatus is mounted on a solid wall or a wall with cavity insulation as shown in Figure 7, cold air connections 5 may be connected directly to outside the structure by duct 17.

The apparatus may be fitted with a duct 12 as shown in Figures 4, 8 and 11 connecting the apparatus to the cold air that is present under floors 13. Air flow from this source must also be maintained by a suitably positioned air brick providing air flow into the underfloor space.

Cold air may also be collected by duct 14, from just above floor level, as shown in Figure 9, cold air from this source is cooled by the materials and mass of the floor structure 15.

Both ducts 12 and 14 are connected to the cold air chamber 2 of the apparatus by cold air inlet 4 at the base of chamber 2.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 show cold and warm air duct configurations suitable for caravans, mobile homes and static on site caravans their function is as previously described for similar configurations.

Claims

1 Air conditioning method and apparatus comprising an electric fan secured inside an enclosure or body configured in the general form of a box said enclosure may vary in shape size and proportion according to the design and location of the apperatus said fan is configured to extract air from said enclosure and propel said air through an aperture in the said enclosure into a room or enclosed space to be serviced by the invention said air can only enter the said enclosure by first passing through an air entry route selection means in the form of a two position valve said valve is configured to provide an entry route into the said enclosure for warm air when set in one position or an entry route for cold air when set in the alternative position the said two way valve may also be set in any position between the warm air and cold air route positions in order to allow a mixture of warm and cold air to be drawn into the enclosure by said fan the said two position valve is provided with inlets that can be conveniently connected to the warm and cold air supply means 2 Air conditioning method and apperatus as claimed in claim

1 wherein the cool air supply means for the apperatus is from the cavity of an adjacent cavity wall building structure.

3 Air conditioning method and apperatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the cool air supply means for the apperatus is from an under floor space.

4 Air conditioning method and apperatus as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the cool air supply to the apperatus is maintained by the cooling of air flowing over cold masonry of a cavity wall structure or under floor masonry and other materials said masonry and other materials being the base of walls, foundations, masonry piers supporting floors, masonry rubble.

5 Air conditioning method and apperatus as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the cool air supply to the apperatus is maintained by the cooling of air flowing over masonry hard standings,masonry rubble,soil and grass when the apperatus is installed in caravans, mobile homes and static on site caravans.

6 Air conditioning method and apperatus as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the apperatus is configured to provide more than one cool air supply means duct connection option to the said apperatus.

7 Air conditioning method and apperatus as claimed in claim

1 wherein atmospheric pressure maintains the volume of air extracted from the low pressure area of the apperatus.

8 Air conditioning method and apperatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.