GB2313661A

GB2313661A - Air distribution device and method of regulating an air distribution device

Info

Publication number: GB2313661A
Application number: GB9706818A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jouni Laurikainen; Andrei Livtchak; Tuomas Moilanen; Pekka Vuorimaa
Original assignee: Halton Oy
Current assignee: Halton Oy
Priority date: 1996-05-28
Filing date: 1997-04-04
Publication date: 1997-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-04
Also published as: FI962230A0; FR2749375B1; SE513616C2; DE19719879A1; SE9701893D0; FI99277C; GB9706818D0; DE19719879B4; GB2313661B; FI99277B; SE9701893L; FR2749375A1

Description

1 2313661 AIR DISTRIBUTION DEVICE AND METHOD OF REGULATING AN AIR

DISTRIBUTION DEVICE The invention concerns an air distribution device and a method in regulation of the air distribution device.

From the DE Patent No. 3,410,078 an intake air solution is known, in which the equipment comprises blades which have been mounted in the form of a circle and which have been attached to a central core pipe. In the solution of equipment, the flow of air through the device is regulated by displacing the valve disk placed at an end of the core pipe at the same time with a second regulator. The second regulator consists of a closing ring. Thus, in the solution of said DE 3,410,078, the positions of the first and the second regulator are regulated at the same time.

In the present patent application, an improvement is suggested for the prior-art constructions. In the present invention, a circle of blades is employed which has been mounted fixedly on a tube which comprises an outside curved collar. Thus, the flow control blades are in a fixed, invariable position in relation to the outside tube that includes the collar. The adjustable control of air flow has been achieved by means of a separate displaceable cylinder pipe, which is fitted to be placed between the outer tube of the stationary blade circle and the outermost tube of the device.

When said displaceable cylinder pipe is in its lower position, the control of the air flow can be made to operate so that the air that flows through the blades in the blade circle flows as directly as possible downwards and no spreading of the air flow to the sides takes place. On the other hand, when the cylinder pipe is in the upper position, the blades together with the curved collar of the outermost tube guide the flow to the sides and, thus, the spreading of the air flow into the room space is at the maximum.

2 In an embodiment of the invention, a separate additional flange is used, which extends inwards from the outermost tube which includes the curved collar, in which case the cylinder pipe can be positioned in relation to and aaainst said flange. Thus, when the blade circle tube is positioned in the topmost possible position, it is placed against the annular flange and closes the lateral flow completely. Within the scope of the invention, an embodiment is also possible in which the lateral flow is prevented in all positions. In such a case, the outer tube of the blade circle is constructed so that it includes an annular flange which is attached to the outermost tube of the device, which tube includes the curved collar. In this embodiment the control of the cylinder pipe takes place in a way similar to the earlier embodiments. In such a case, the branches connected with the cylinder support extend through the openings in the annular flange, whereby a control of the cylinder pipe is possible.

The invention is characterized in what is stated in the patent claims.

The invention will be described in the following with reference to some preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the figures in the accompanying drawings, the invention being, however, not supposed to be confined to said embodiments alone.

Figure 1A is an axonometric and partly schematic illustration of a device in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1B is a sectional view taken along the line M in Fig. 1A.

Figure 2A shows the device of Fig. 1B with the cylinder pipe in a position in which the air flow is not controlled by means of the cylinder pipe and the air flows towards the sides while guided by the collar of the air distribution device.

In Figure 2B the cylinder pipe is in the lower position, in which the cylinder pipe guides the air flow that comes through the blades directly downwards.

3 Figure 2C shows the equipment of Fig. 2A viewed in the direction of the arrow K1 in Fig. 2A.

Figure 3A shows the cylinder support, the cylinder pipe, and the outermost tube 5 which includes the collar, as well as the blade circle placed in a stationary position in relation to said outermost tube as separate from each other, e.g. before assembly.

Figure 3B illustrates the cylinder support and the connected cylinder pipe intended for the control of the air flow as a separate illustration viewed from the side.

Figure 3C shows the solution of Fig. 313 as viewed from the top in the direction of the arrow K2 in Fig. 3B.

Figure 4A is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the invention in which a separate inside flange is used which is connected with the outermost tube provided with a collar and against which the displaceable cylinder pipe can be kept in a situation of closing a lateral flow L2.

Figure 413 is an axonometric illustration in part of the solution of equipment shown in Fig. 4A.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention in which a lateral flow is prevented.

Figure 6 shows a second solution of suspension of the blade circle.

Figure 7 is an axonometric illustration in part of a solution of equipment shown in Figs. 1A,1B, in which the blade circle comprises two groups of blades.

Fig. 1A is a schematic and axonometric illustration of an air distribution device 10 in accordance with the invention. As is shown in the figure, the air distribution device 10 comprises a tube, i.e. an outer mantle 12b, which comprises a curved outside collar 12a and to which a blade circle 11 has been attached in a stationary 4 position by means of separate screws RpR2... from its outer mantle, i.e. from the blade circle tube 1 lc. Air is made to flow by means of blowers or other devices from a system of ducts through the air distribution device 10, which operates as the terminal member for the distribution of air, so that the air flows through the air guide blades 11al,11a2 into the room space along a spiral-shaped path. Thus, the air guide blades 11 ap 11 a2 bring the air into a spiral-shaped downward movement, in which connection the carriage of fresh air 1 heated air or any other air to be passed into the room space can be passed into the room space efficiently.

Fig. 1B shows the device 10 in accordance with the invention mainly as a sectional view taken along the line I-I in Fig. 1A. The air is made to flow into the room space through the air guide blades 11 ap 11 a2... in the blade circle 11 (arrow L,). The air guide blades 1 lal, 1 1a2, 1 1a3... have been attached to the central shaft 1 lb and from the opposite end to a relatively wide blade circle tube 1 lc. Thus, the blade circle 11 further includes an outer tube llc, from which the blade circle 11 with the con- nected blade constructions 1 lal, 1 1a2... and with the shaft 1 lb is attached to the tube with the collar 12a, i.e. to the outer mantle of the device.

According to the invention, between the collar 12a and the tube 1 lc of the blade circle 11, there is a separate cylinder pipe 13 of circular section, whose position can be regulated. The cylinder pipe 13 is connected with a cylinder support 14, with which the central sleeve 15 is connected. The sleeve 15 is fitted to move inside a hollow shaft 1 lb in a second sleeve 16 attached to said shaft 1 lb, and the sleeve 15 is guided by the sleeve 16. Inside the sleeve 15, the hollow shaft 1 lb and the second sleeve 16, centrally in the device, there is a screw 17 parallel to the central axis (X axis), the end of said screw 17 being provided with a positioning flange 18. The screw 17 is surrounded by a spring 19. The spring 19 is fitted between the end plate 16W of the sleeve 16b and the end plate 15a of the sleeve 15. When the screw 17 is rotated, its threading J1 is in engagement with the opposite threading J2 provided in the end hole 15b of the sleeve 15. Thus, when the screw 17 is rotated by means of the flange 18, the cylinder pipe 13 is raised and lowered (arrows S, and S2) so that the pipe can be brought to the desired air guide positions in relation to the stationary blade circle 11 and to the blades 11 a,, 11 a2... placed in it, which blade circle 11 is fixed in a stationary position in relation to the collar 12a and the tube 12b. The nuts M, and M2 determine the range of operation of the device, i.e. the movement permitted for the cylinder pipe 13.

Fig. 2A shows the control cylinder 13 in the upper position in relation to the stationary blade circle 11. In this case the air flow L, passing through the blades 11a131a2... of the blade circle 11 into the room space spreads towards the sides while guided by the curved face of the collar 12a.

Fig. 2B shows the lower position of the air flow control cylinder. In this case the air flow L, is guided through the blades 11 a,, 11 a2... directly downwards while guided by the inner face of the cylinder pipe 13.

Fig. 2C shows the equipment of Fig 2A viewed in the direction of the arrow K, in Fig. 2A. As is shown in the figure, the blade circle 11 has been attached by means of the screws R1,R2... in a stationary position in relation to the collar 12a and the tube 12b.

Fig. 3A shows the cylinder support 14, the cylinder pipe 13, the collar tube 12b, and the blade circle 11, which is mounted in a stationary position, as separate from one another. As is shown in the figure, the cylinder support 14 comprises rib-like branches 14al, 142.... which are connected with the cylinder pipe 13 which guides the air flow and in whose side face there are grooves UpU2... that are open towards the top, in which connection the cylinder support 14 can be displaced so that the cylinder pipe 13 moves vertically and the fastening screws RpR2.. . of the blade circle 11 run in said grooves UpU2... open towards the top (the grooves UPU2... are shown in Fig. 4B). In this way movement of the cylinder pipe 13 inside the collar 12a and the tube 12b connected with the collar 12a, i.e. the collar tube, and outside the blade circle tube llc of the blade circle 11 is permitted.

6 Fig. 3B is a separate illustration of the cylinder support 14 and of the cylinder pipe 13. As is shown in Fig. 3B, the cylinder support 14 connected with the pipe 13 comprises branch parts 14al,14a2..., which are connected with the support frame 14b, which is coupled with the sleeve 15.

Fig. 3C illustrates the device of Fig. 3A as viewed from above. As is shown in Fig. 3C, it is seen that the cylinder pipe 13 is a cylindrical hollow part of circular section, which is fitted to surround the tube 1 lc of the blade circle 11.

Figs. 4A and 4B show a second embodiment of the invention, in which there is a separate inside flange 20 on the outer tube 12b, in which connection, when the cylinder pipe 13 is displaced into the upper position, the lateral flow 1-2 is closed completely and the whole air flow L, passes through the blades 11 a,, 11 a2... in the blade circle 11. The branches 14al, 14a2... of the support part 14 of the cylinder pipe 13 pass through the through openings 22al,222 in the flange 20. The operation is now the following. When the cylinder pipe 13 for the air flow is in the upper position, the air flow L, that passes through the blades 11al,11a2.. . in the blade circle is directed towards the sides, while guided by the collar 12a, and at the same time the passage of lateral flow L2 is closed (all flow between the outer tube 1 l c of the blade circle 11 and the collar 12a tube 12b is prevented). When the air flow control part, i.e. the so-called cylinder pipe 13 is placed so that it extends below the blade circle 11, its function is to guide the flow L, passing through the blade circle 11 downwards. In said embodiment, in such a case, a lateral flow L2 between the blade circle tube llc of the blade circle 11 and the collar 12a tube 12b is also permitted, in which case said lateral flow 1.2 operates as a curtain jet directed downwards and further promotes the guiding of the air flow directly downwards.

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment which is in the other respects similar to Figs. 4A and 4B, but in the solution shown in Fig. 5 the blade circle 11 is placed in a stationary position in relation to the annular flange 20. In such a case, the lateral flow 1.2 is always prevented, and air is made to flow (arrow LJ exclusively through the blades 11 ap 11 a2... in the blade circle 11.

7 Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention which is mainly similar to Fig. 5, in which embodiment the blade circle 11 is attached to the annular, circumferential flange part 20 by means of separate suspension hooks 21al,21a2... The outer blade circle tube 11 c of the blade circle 11 is attached to the flange part 20, or the blade 5 circle tube Ilc may include a fold that forms the flange 20.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the construction of the blade circle 11 in which the blade circle 11 comprises two separate blade groups, i.e. the blade groups D, and D2. Of course, within the scope of the invention, it is possible that there is/are one or several blade groups D1,1)2 As is shown in the figure, the blades I la, ',11a2' in the inner blade group D, are connected from one end with the shaft 1 1b and from the opposite end with the blade circle tube 1 W. The blades 1 la, ", 1 1a2"... included in the blade group D2 are connected from one end with the blade circle tube 1 W and from the opposite end with the outer tube 1 lc, which is further connected with the outermost tube 12b of the device, which tube includes the collar 12a, by means of the screw means RpR2... Fig. 7 shows the blade circle 11 as an illustration in part. The blades 1.1a131a2...; llal',11a2'...; llal", 11a2"... project radially from the central axis X in the entire area and over the entire distance of the circular circumference.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An air distribution device, which air distribution device comprises a blade circle (11) and therein, between a blade circle tube (I lc) and its shaft (I lb), air guide blades (11al,11a2; 1 lal', 1 1a2'; 1 lal", 1 1a2"), and which blade circle (11) is mounted in a stationary position in relation to an outermost tube (12b) which includes a collar (12a), characterized in that there is a displaceable separate cylinder pipe (13), which is used for guiding of air and which can be brought into different regulation positions in relation to the stationary blade circle (11). 10

2. An air distribution device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cylinder pipe (13) is connected with a cylinder support (14), which is further connected with a sleeve (15), and that the sleeve (15) is fitted to be guided by a second sleeve (16), which is fitted inside a central shaft (11 b) placed in a stationary position, and that there is a central screw (17), by whose means the sleeve (15) and the constructions connected with it, such as the cylinder pipe (13), can be shifted into different regulation positions, and that the cylinder pipe (13) is fitted to be displaceable outside the blade circle tube (11 c) of the blade circle (11), and that the cylinder pipe (13) comprises grooves (UpU2...) that are open at their end to pass the screws (RpR2) that attach the blade circle (11) to the collar (12a) tube (12b).

3. An air distribution device as claimed in the preceding claims, characterized in that the screw (17) is connected rotatably but in a stationary position in relation to said second sleeve (16), and that said screw (17) is in engagement from its threading (J1) with the corresponding threading (J2) provided in the end hole (15a) of the sleeve (15), in which connection, when the screw (17) is rotated by means of the positioning flange (18), the sleeve (15) is displaced in the direction of the central axis (X axis) (arrows S1.S2), and thereby the cylinder pipe (13), which is connected with the sleeve (15) by means of intermediate parts, is shifted into different positions in relation to the blade circle (11) and to the collar (12a) and to the tube (12b) connected with the collar (12a).

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4. An air distribution device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, between the tube mantle (11c) and the outside tube (12b), there are screws (RpR2...) or brackets (21al,21a2...) serving as fastening means.

5. An air distribution device as clairned in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the inside face of the tube (12b) which includes the collar (12a) there is an annular flange (20), which runs circumferentially around the central axis (X axis) and in relation to which the cylinder pipe (13) can be positioned in different regulation positions, in which connection the lateral flow (L2) between the flange (20) and the end of the cylinder pipe (13) is regulated.

6. An air distribution device as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lateral flow (1,2) between the tube (1 lc) and the tube 12b) provided with the collar (12a) is prevented, in which connection there is a separate annular flange (20) connected with the tube (12b) and further connected with the tube (11c) of the blade circle (11) so that the lateral flow (L2) is prevented and air always flows through the blades (11 ap 11 a2... ) in the blade circle (11) (arrow L,).

7. A method in regulation of the air distribution device, which air distribution device comprises at least one blade circle (11) and therein air guide blades (11al, 1 1a2...; llal',11a2'...; llal",11a2"...), and that the blade circle (11) comprises a central shaft (1 lb) and an outer blade circle tube (1 1c), and that the blade circle (11) is attached in a stationary position in relation to the outermost tube (12b) in the device, which tube includes a curved collar (12a), characterized in that, in the method, a separate cylindrical air guide part, a cylinder pipe (13), is displaced in relation to the stationary tube (1 1c) of the blade circle (11), in which connection, if it is desired that the air flow spreads towards the sides, the cylinder pipe (13) is kept in the upper position and, if it is desired that the air flow is guided downwards, the cylinder pipe (13) is shifted downwards, in which connection the inner face of the cylinder pipe (13) operates as a part guiding the air flow and forces the air that flows through the air guide blades (llal,11a2...; llal',11a2,...; llal",11a2"...) of the blade circle (11) to flow downwards (arrow L,).

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, in the method, the cylinder pipe (13) is displaced by positioning the central screw (17) and by displacing the sleeve (15) connected with the screw (17), with which sleeve (15) the cylinder pipe (13) is connected further by the intermediate of the cylinder 5 support (14).

9. An air distribution device substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of regulating an air distribution device substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.