GB2425348A

GB2425348A - Air duct connection box having multiple connection points

Info

Publication number: GB2425348A
Application number: GB0605237A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marko Hakkinen; Vesa Juslin; Risto Kosonen; Heimo Ulmanen; Pauli Viinanen
Original assignee: Halton Oy
Current assignee: Halton Oy
Priority date: 2005-04-12
Filing date: 2006-03-15
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-15
Also published as: SE531968C2; SE0600604L; FR2885204A1; FI117726B; FR2885204B1; FI20050370A; FI20050370A0; GB2425348C; GB0605237D0; GB2425348B

Abstract

Connection equipment 10 into an air duct comprises a connecting box 11 to which a ventilation terminal device, such as a supply air terminal device or an exhaust air device, can be connected. The connecting box 11 comprises walls 11a1, 11a2-11a6, which bound an air chamber, and at least two optional connection points B1, B2 from which the connecting box 11 can be connected to an air duct. In a method for using the connecting box 11, a connection point is chosen for the air duct R into the connecting box at the place of installation of the air terminal from the optional connection points B1, B2 by providing the connecting box 11 from a chosen direction with a coupling sleeve 13 having a tube part 13b to which the air duct R is connected. The optional connection points may comprise a weakened area 15 along which a part 14 bounded by the weakened area may be removed. Covering plates 12 may be placed over unused connection points.

Description

Connection equipment to an air duct and method for installation of the

equipment in the air duct The invention concerns connection equipment to an air duct and a method for installation of the equipment in the air duct.

Room devices, such as, for example, air-conditioning beams and supply air terminal devices and exhaust air devices, are usually equipped with a connecting box, which can be used for carrying out some or all of the following actions: 1) to level out the flow-technical conditions of the duct system and make possible a flow-technically correct functioning of the room device, 2) to reduce the duct system pressure to match the design values of the supply air terminal device, and 3) to attenuate the noise transferring from the duct system into the room. In some cases the connecting box is simply intended to allow connection of the supply air terminal device to the main air duct without the above- mentioned properties.

During the design stage in practical situations a choice is made for the specific case to determine from which direction the duct system is joined to the room device. Correspondingly, the contractor orders the device from the device supplier according to the chosen direction of connection. However, on the work site it is often impossible to carry out the connecting method according to the plan, but necessary changes must be made in the duct system and elsewhere in order to make it possible to connect the device in a purposeful manner.

The present presents a new kind of connecting equipment into an air duct, which comprises a connecting box, from which the direction of connection to the air duct can be chosen. This application also presents a method using a connecting box in accordance with the invention, whereby the direction of connection is not chosen until the place of installation to connect the connecting box and the associated ventilation terminal device to the air duct.

The installation can be made easier with a device for easy selection of the direction of connection during the installation stage and reduced total costs can also be achieved in this way. When ordering the devices it is not necessary to pay special attention to a more precise determination of the direction of connection.

Nor is it necessary in worksite stocking to distinguish between room devices provided with different methods of connection.

The invention in fact aims at a new type of connecting box for the room system, where the manner of connecting the exhaust air device and the supply air terminal device is finally chosen during the installation stage. Using the method according to the invention it is possible on the worksite promptly to change the manner of connecting the room device without any special tools. In practice, the mechanic chooses the direction of the coupling sleeve into the air duct in a manner suitable for the purpose.

The solution according to the invention is based on the fact that the connecting boxes to be joined to the room device are already provided with optional places for the coupling sleeve to connect the device to the ventilation air duct, such as the main air duct, and from these a direction of connection is chosen, which is suitable for the duct installation. The coupling sleeve is installed in the desired direction of connection and, correspondingly, the other directions are covered up with a tight covering plate suitable for the purpose.

According to the invention, this application thus presents a new type of connecting equipment in ventilation, which connecting equipment comprises a connecting box, to which a ventilation terminal device is connected, such as a supply air terminal device or an exhaust air device, whereby the direction of connection of said device to the air duct can be chosen as desired. In accordance with the invention, the connecting box is thus provided with connection points B1, B2... from at least two walls, preferably from several walls, for connecting the device to the ventilation air duct, such as a main air duct R. The connecting box preferably comprises connection points B1...B4 in all its side surfaces and preferably also in the top and bottom surfaces B5, B6. In the supply air terminal device there may be an air-conditioning beam, a ceiling diffuser etc., and an exhaust air valve may function as the exhaust air device.

The wall at connection point B1, B2... in the connecting box according to the invention is formed in such a way that it preferably comprises a weakened area of circular shape made in the plate thickness, whereby the weakened area may be formed by a groove made in the wall of the connecting box, so that where the groove is located the wall thickness is thinner than in the rest of the wall, or by a perforation made in the wall of the connecting box so that it extends through the wall, that is, by a discontinuous perforation. The inner part of the weakened area can be removed without any separate tool at the place of installation by applying a force to it. When at least two, preferably all, walls of the connecting box are provided with a closing weakened area preferably of a circular shape and with a covering plate or a coupling sleeve it is possible to choose the direction of the air duct to be connected, such as the main air duct, only at the place of installation.

The terminal device for the ventilation is joined to the connecting box in the desired direction.

In connection with the weakened area of connection point B1, B2... a covering plate is set, whereby it covers the circular weakened area and protects the weakened spot, so that the part bounded inside the weakened area will not be subjected to blows or forces, whereby the part bounded by the weakened area cannot unfasten unnecessarily or, if the part bounded by the weakened area has been removed earlier in some other installation or the weakened area is a perforation in the wall, the covering plate will prevent uncontrolled ventilation.

The covering plate can be placed in the connecting box by quick clamping, for example, with the aid of claw parts and a protruding part. When the part bounded by the weakened area is removed from the desired place in the connecting box, a passage is formed into the inner space of the connecting box; into the air chamber, and a coupling sleeve comprising a connecting tube or a covering plate can be placed at the spot in question. The component in question can be mounted by using the same quick clamping means as those used for the covering plate.

Thus, in the method according to the invention it is possible by using the connecting box according to the invention at the place of installation of the worksite to choose the supply direction of the air duct set by choosing the desired direction of connection and thus the connection point B1 or B2 or B3 or B4... in the connecting box. A coupling sleeve is placed at the chosen connection point.

Before this, the part bounded by the weakened area is removed, preferably a wall part of circular shape, in order to form a passage into the connecting box and into the air chamber A. In one embodiment, the connecting box is advantageously joined to such an air- conditioning beam, through which room air is circulated in order to cool or heat it and through which air-conditioning beam fresh air is brought into the room, which fresh air will induce the flow of circulated air to flow through the heat exchanger of the air-conditioning beam. Thus, in the case mentioned the connecting box will function as the supply air terminal box for the fresh supply air and it can be connected to the air- conditioning beam by removing one wall of the connecting box or by forming it with a cross-section comprising such an opening, which will fit into the cross-sectional shape of the supply air chamber in the air- conditioning beam, and by connecting it to the supply air chamber of the air-conditioning beam.

The invention also relates to a method for installing the equipment in an air duct.

The connecting box can be connected to the air-conditioning duct together with its ventilation terminal device, such as its supply air or exhaust air terminal devices, at the place of installation of the ventilation terminal device in such a way that the desired connection point B1 or B2 or B3... is chosen from the connecting box in order to connect the device to the air duct from a direction, which is the best one possible for the installation. In the method, the part comprising a weakened area is hereby removed from the chosen connection point from the connecting box in order to form an opening into the wall of the connecting box from the desired direction, and before this the covering plate is removed, which has been located on the weakened area, or in which structure there is just a covering plate at a passage, which has been formed earlier and which leads into the air chamber. The covering plate is removed and a coupling sleeve is placed in its stead, from which coupling sleeve the connecting box is connected further to the air chamber R. The connecting equipment according to the invention is characterised by the features presented in the device claims.

The method according to the invention is characterised by the features presented in the method claims.

In the following, the invention will be described by referring to some advantageous embodiments of the invention, which are shown in the figures of the attached drawings, but the intention is not to limit the invention to these embodiments only.

Figure 1 shows the connecting equipment according to the invention into the air duct and its connecting box. The presentation is axonometric and in the presentation neither the coupling sleeve nor the covering plate has yet been connected to the connecting box.

Figure 2A shows the structure of Figure 1 with the coupling sleeve and the covering plate installed in their places. The air duct is shown as a partial sectional view and it is indicated by reference letter R. Figure 2B is a sectional view along line I - Tin Figure 2A.

Figure 3A shows the connecting box in connection with an air-conditioning beam.

Figure 3B is a sectional view along line II - II of Figure 3A.

Figure 4 shows a ventilation terminal device located in connection with the connecting box and being a ceiling diffuser, through which fresh supply air is distributed into the room. The ceiling diffuser shown in the figure may also function as an exhaust air valve.

Figure 1 shows the connecting equipment 10 according to the invention into an air duct, which comprises a connecting box 11. The presentation is axonometric and a coupling sleeve 13 is shown separately from the connecting box 11 and, correspondingly, a covering plate 12 is placed separately from the connecting box 11 before being mounted in its place. Two connection points can be seen in the figure, that is, connection points B1 and B2, in two different sides of connecting box 11. Thus, connecting box 11 comprises at least two alternative connection points B1, B2, preferably more, into the air duct. The connecting box 11 is formed in such a way that all its side surfaces 11 a1, 11 a2 and 11 a3 comprise connection points B1, B2... Such an embodiment is also possible that all the side surfaces of connecting box 11 and also the top and bottom surfaces comprise connection points B1, B2..., of which one can be chosen at the place of installation in order to connect the equipment to the air duct, and a ventilation terminal device is preferably installed in one of these connection points. Such an embodiment is also possible, wherein a ventilation terminal device is connected directly to the air chamber of the connecting box or by way of a separate intermediate tube to this.

Figure 1 shows the connecting box 11 of the connecting equipment 10 before the removal of part 14 and before the installation of covering plate 12 and coupling sleeve 13. As is shown in the figure, connecting equipment 10 comprises a connecting box 11, which comprises side walls 11 a1, 11 a2, 11 a3 and 11 a4 as well as a top wall 11 a5 and a bottom wall 11 a. Connecting box 11 can be connected, for example, to the air- conditioning beam 20 shown in Figure 3A by removing side wall ha4 and by joining it to the end wall of supply air chamber C in air- conditioning beam 20 (Figures 3A, 3B). As is shown in Figure 1, the connecting box 11 comprises in at least two sides, preferably in several sides, connection points B1, B2... in order to connect it to the air duct R. Connection point B1, B2...

comprises a weakened area 15, preferably a non-penetrating groove made in the wall or a discontinuous perforation in the wall, that is, a perforation, which preferably is of a circular shape, whereby it bounds within itself a removable part 14. Along the wea]cened area 15 part 14 can be removed in order to form a passage into the air chamber A of connecting box 11. As is shown in Figure 1, connecting box 11 comprises a separate coupling sleeve 13, which can be coupled at the removable part 14 by using fastening means 16, which in this embodiment is formed by quick clamping means 16 comprising claw parts 16a, under which the edge of the coupling sleeve's 13 plate part 13a can be placed, while the protruding part I 6b of the coupling sleeve's 13 plate 1 3a is located in an opening or a notch 16c in the bottom plate ha5. Coupling sleeve 13 comprises a seal 17 in plate part 13a, preferably in the surface to be placed against its wall 1 1a2. The seal extends around a tube part 13b. A seal can also be placed in a groove 13c in tube part l3b, whereby air duct R can be placed into tube part 13b with a sealing effect around it. Before this, part 14 has been removed preferably at the place of installation from the connection point B1 in connecting box 11. The other connection point B2 comprises a covering plate 12 to be located around a weakened area 15 and also comprising a seal 17, which is placed around the weakened area 15, for example, around a perforation. Hereby, if the part 14 bounded inside the weakened area 15 has been removed from connection point B2 in order to form an opening into air chamber A, the connection point in question can be closed by covering plate 12. There is also a covering plate 12 in connection with such a side surface, from which the part 14 has not yet been removed.

Hereby, if the weakened area is perforated, the concerned covering plate 12 forms a sealing and a protection for the area, and if the weakened area is a groove, the covering plate will protect the spot in question and will be in preparation to form a closing part after the removal of part 14. Covering plate 12 is connected as is shown in Figure 1 to wall 11 a1 of connecting box 11 by quick clamping means 16 by placing the edge of covering plate 12 under the claw parts 1 6a and by placing the covering plate's 12 protruding part 16b into the notch 16c in the edge of bottom plate ha5. The covering plate 12 and the coupling sleeve 13 comprise a grip lip f.

Figure 2A shows a stage where the coupling sleeve 13 shown in Figure 1 is put in its place in the connecting box 11, and before this the part 14 of the wall bounded by the weakened area 15 has been removed and a passage has been formed for the airflow. The concerned part 14 bounded by the weakened area can be removed by striking lightly with the hands on the area bounded inside the weakened area 15 and thus by affecting this by force.

Figure 2A shows a covering plate 12 mounted in its place in the connecting box 11. Air duct R, which is shown as a partial view, can be mounted into the connecting tube of coupling sleeve 13, that is, in tube part 13b.

Figure 2B shows a Sectional view along line I - I of Figure 2A. An air chamber A is bounded inside connecting box 11. By removing the wall 11 a4 shown in Figure 2B it is possible to connect connecting box 11 further, for example, to air- conditioning beam 20. Air chamber A of the connecting box is hereby connected to the supply air chamber C in the air-conditioning beam (Figure 3A).

Figure 3A shows a connecting box 11 in connection with the airconditioning beam 20 of the ventilation terminal device, as is shown in the figure. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3A, a wall ha4 of connecting box 11 has been removed in order to connect air chamber A of the connecting box with supply air chamber C of air-conditioning beam 20.

Figure 3B is a sectional view along line II - II of Figure 3A. The presentation is on a reduced scale.

As is shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the air-conditioning beam 20 comprises a heat exchanger 21, which is used for either heating or cooling the circulated air L2 from the room. Airflow L2 arrives at the heat exchanger through a perforated plate 24 or some other such device. From the heat exchanger the airflow L2 is conducted into a mixing chamber 23. Fresh supply air is conducted from air duct R into connecting box 11 and from its air chamber A into supply air chamber C of the air-conditioning beam 20 and thence through a nozzle 22 into the mixing chamber 23. The airflow in question induces the circulated airflow to flow from the room space H through the heat exchanger 21 and further into mixing chamber 23, and the combined airflow L1 + L2 is conducted into the room space H. Figure 4 shows a supply air terminal device 100, which is connected to the connecting box and which is formed by a ceiling diffuser 30, through which fresh supply air L1 is distributed into room H in various directions. The ceiling diffuser is connected to connecting box 11 through a sleeve part 13 or through a separate tube fitting V shown in the figure.

Through air duct R fresh supply air L1 is brought first into air chamber A of the connecting box 11 and thence further through the tube fitting V into the ceiling diffuser 30. Through ceiling diffuser 30 the fresh supply air L1 is distributed evenly into the room space H. In principle, the ceiling diffuser 30 may also function as an exhaust air device; as an exhaust valve, through which exhaust air is removed from the room H. The ceiling diffuser 30 may also be connected through coupling sleeve 13 to a connecting tube of the ceiling diffuser 30, such as air duct R. The invention also concerns a method for installation of the equipment 10 described above, that is, the connection equipment 10, into an air duct R. The connection equipment 10 described above is used in the installation method according to the invention. Connection equipment 10 comprises a connecting box 11 in such a way that from the connecting box 11 a desired direction of connection is chosen at the place of installation of the ventilation terminal device 100, such as a supply air or exhaust air terminal device, and thus a desired connection point is chosen from the optional connection points B1 or B2 or B3..., for example, B1 (Figure 2B) in order to connect the air duct R to the connecting box 11 from the desired direction. The other optional connection points B1, B2...

are hereby kept closed. Closing is preferably done by using a covering plate 12.

The chosen connection point B1 is equipped with a coupling sleeve 13 in such a way that before installation of the coupling sleeve 13 a part 14 bounded by a weakened area 15 is removed along the weakened area in order to form a passage into air chamber A inside the connecting box 11. Coupling sleeve 13 is placed in the connecting box 11 with the aid of quick clamping means 16. The connecting box 11 and the ventilation terminal device 100 comprising it, such as a supply air terminal device or an exhaust air device, are then connected through the connecting box 11 to the air duct R. The connecting and installation method according to the invention is suitable for use not only together with supply air terminal devices but also together with exhaust air devices. Through air duct R, which can be a main duct, fresh air is brought into the connecting box and further through this into an air-conditioning beam or into some other ventilation terminal device or, according to the invention, the connecting box may be connected with a ventilation terminal device, which may be an exhaust air valve, and the concerned air box is connected to an air duct, which hereby is an exhaust air duct.

Claims

Claims 1. Connection equipment (10) into an air duct, characterized in

that the connection equipment (10) comprises a connecting box (11), to which a ventilation terminal device (100), such as a supply air terminal device or an exhaust air device, can be connected, and which connecting box (11) comprises walls (ha1, 11a2...11a6) bounding inside them an air chamber (A), and that the connecting box comprises at least two optional connection points (B1 or B2 or B3...), from which the connecting box (11) can be connected to an air duct (R).
2. Connection equipment (10) according to the above claim into an air duct, characterized in that the connection point (B1 or B2 or B3...) connected to an air duct comprises a coupling sleeve (13) or a covering plate (12), which can be connected to the air duct (R).
3. Connection equipment (10) according to the previous claim into an air duct, characterized in that the connection point (Bi; B2...) of the connecting box (11) in a wall (1 1a1, 1 1a2...) comprises a weakened area (15), along which a part (14) bounded by the weakened area inside itself can be removed, whereby the concerned chosen connection point (B1 or B2... ) can be equipped with a coupling sleeve (13) after removal of the part (14), which coupling sleeve (13) comprises a plate part (13a) and connected to this a tube part (13b), into which an air duct (R) can be placed, and that the other optional connection points hereby comprise a covering plate (12), and they are kept closed in relation to the air chamber (A).
4. Connection equipment (10) according to the previous claim into an air duct, characterized in that the connecting box (11) as a weakened area (15) comprises a weakened area of circular shape made in a wall (ha1, 1 1a2...), along which weakened area a part (14) bounded by the weakened area (13) inside itself can be removed in order to form a passage for an airflow into a chamber (A), and that the supply air box (11) comprises quick clamping means (16) for a removable connection of the covering plate (12) and the coupling sleeve (13) in the connecting box (11).
5. Connection equipment (10) according to the previous claim into an air duct, characterized in that the quick clamping means (16) for the sleeve part (13) and the covering plate (12) is formed by claw parts (16a) located in the connecting box (11) and under which the edge of a plate (13a) of the covering plate (12) or the coupling sleeve (13) can be placed, and that the covering plate (12) comprises a protruding part (16b) and, correspondingly, the plate (1 3a) of the coupling sleeve comprises a protruding part (16b), which can be placed in a notch (16c) of the connecting box (11).
6. Connection equipment (10) according to some of the previous claims into an air duct, characterized in that the connecting box (11) comprises a weakened area (15) of circular shape, which is formed by a groove made in a wall (1 1a1, ha2...) but not extending through the wall or by a discontinuous perforation made through the wall.
7. Connection equipment (10) according to some of the previous claims into an air duct, characterized in that the covering plate (12) and the coupling sleeve (13) comprise a seal (17) to be placed against a wall (ha1, ha2...) in the connecting box (11).
8. Connection equipment (10) according to some of the previous claims into an air duct, characterized in that the connecting box (11) of the connecting equipment (10) comprises in connection thereto a supply air terminal device, which is an air-conditioning beam (20), whereby the airconditioning beam comprises a heat exchanger (21), through which room air is circulated in order to cool or heat it, and in which air-conditioning beam (20) fresh supply air is brought through the connecting box (11) and the air chamber (A) from the air duct (R) into a supply air chamber (C) of the air-conditioning beam (20) and it is conducted through nozzles (22) into a mixing chamber (23), whereby the airflow (L1) in question induces a circulated airflow (L2) to flow through the heat exchanger (21), and from the mixing chamber (23) the combined airflow (Li + L2) is conducted out of the device (20), whereby in the device solution the connecting box (11) is connected to a supply air chamber (C) in the air-conditioning beam (20), whereby the air chamber (A) of the connecting box (11) is in connection with the supply air chamber (C) of the air-conditioning beam (20).
9. Connection equipment (10) according to some of the previous claims 1 7 into an air duct, characterized in that the connecting box (11) comprises in connection therewith a supply air terminal device (30), which is a ceiling diffuser, through which air is distributed into the room space
10. Connection equipment (10) according to some of the previous claims 1 - 7 into an air duct, characterized in that the connecting box (11) comprises in connection therewith a ventilation terminal device, which is an exhaust air device and an exhaust air valve, whereby the air duct (R), to which the connecting box (11) is connected, is an exhaust air duct.
11. Method for installation of equipment (10) into an air duct (R), characterized in that in the method a connecting box (11) is used, to which an air duct (R) and a supply air terminal device or an exhaust air device is connected, and that in the method a connection point to the air duct (R) is chosen from optional connection points (B1 or B2 or B3...) at the place of installation of the supply air terminal device or the exhaust air device by providing the connecting box (11) from a chosen direction with a a coupling sleeve (13) having a tube part (13b), to which the air duct (R) is connected.
12. Method according to the previous claim, characterized in that from the connecting box (11) a part (14) of the wall of the connecting box (11) bonnded by a weakened area (15) is removed from a desired direction, and after removal of the concerned part the connection point is provided with a coupling sleeve (13) and that in the method the other optional connection directions and thus the optional connection points (B1, B2...) are kept closed.
13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that in the method a covering part (12) and a coupling sleeve (13) are used, which can be connected in a removable manner by using quick clamping means (16).