MX2011010412A

MX2011010412A - Air distribution unit.

Info

Publication number: MX2011010412A
Application number: MX2011010412A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Joachim Hirsch
Original assignee: Air System Components Inc
Priority date: 2010-10-12
Filing date: 2011-10-03
Publication date: 2013-03-06
Also published as: CA2754503A1; US20120088445A1

Abstract

An air distribution unit comprising a housing having a receiving chamber, said receiving chamber is in communication externally and internally of said housing, a first air exhaust duct in said housing in communication with said receiving chamber and with said exterior for exhausting air from said receiving chamber to a lower portion of the housing, a second air exhaust duct in said housing in communication with said receiving chamber and with said exterior for exhausting air from said receiving chamber to an upper portion of the housing, an air supply duct in said housing having a first end in communication with said receiving chamber and a second end in communication with said first air exhaust duct, and a damper communicating with said receiving chamber for selectively routing air from said receiving chamber to either the first air exhaust duct or said second air exhaust duct.

Description

AIR DISTRIBUTION UNIT The invention relates to an air distribution unit and more particularly to an air distribution unit having a damper to selectively control the air flow in a heating mode for air circulation near the floor or ceiling of a room.

Air displacement ventilation systems cool by removing the air from the fully stratified room. The low speed air supply is distributed through low pressure ventilation units through the floor. The air rises and removes charges and contaminants from the room. These systems lack a second attachment for heating purposes.

Representative of the art is U.S. Patent No. 5,301,744 which discloses an air conditioning system that is capable of receiving interchangeable ventilation modules having varying degrees of air mixing. A ventilation module is fitted inside the air conditioning system and connected to an air return opening, an exhaust duct, an air inlet opening and an air supply duct to provide the appropriate air path to be conditioned.

Because ventilation needs to be changed, a different module with appropriate ventilation characteristics can replace the existing module while keeping the other components of the air conditioning system intact such as blowers, compressors, heaters, condensing coils. The functionality of the ventilation modules varies from an economizer module that allows 100% of outdoor air in a structure to a motorized air cushion module that can be controlled based on various factors such as occupancy of the room to provide a range limited fresh air mix and return, to a faceplate that completely avoids the use of outside air by letting the system condition the return air only to supply the structure. A ventilation module is also provided for the operation of an efficient and economical system capable of transferring energy between the incoming air and the stale air that is expelled.

What is needed is an air distribution unit that has a damper to selectively control the air flow in a heating mode and in a cooling mode for air circulation near the floor or ceiling of a room. This invention satisfies this need.

The primary aspect of the invention is to provide an air distribution unit having a damper for selectively controlling the air flow in a heating mode and in a cooling mode for the circulation of air near the floor or ceiling of the air. a room .

Other aspects of the invention will be pointed out or will be obvious by means of the following description thereof and the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists of an air distribution unit comprising a cabinet having a receiving chamber, said receiving chamber communicating externally and internally to said cabinet, a first air extraction duct in said cabinet communicating with said receiving chamber and with said exterior to extract the air from said receiving chamber to a portion in the lower part of the cabinet, a second air-expulsion duct in said cabinet communicating with said receiving chamber and with said exterior to extract the air from said chamber receiving a portion in the upper part of the cabinet, an air supply duct in said cabinet having a first end in communication with said receiving chamber and a second end in communication with said air exhaust duct, and a shock absorber that communicates with said receiving chamber to selectively provide an air path from said chamber receiver towards the first air exhaust duct or with said second air exhaust duct.

The accompanying drawings that are part of the specification, illustrate the predominant incorporations of this invention and together with a description serve to explain the principles thereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the air distribution unit in a room.

Figure 2 is a vertical plane front view of the unit.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the unit.

Figure 3A is a detail of the front of the unit.

Figure 4 is a partial perspective internal view of the unit.

Figure 5 is a cross section of the unit.

Figure 5A is a detail of Figure 5.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the unit.

Figure 6A is a detail of Figure 6.

Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the unit.

This invention relates to an interchangeable air distribution unit for use in the construction of air conditioning systems. More specifically for a floor or wall mounted air displacement unit for use in a heated room or area. To avoid the need for an additional heating element in the room, this invention combines the movement of heating and heating mixing into one unit.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the air distribution unit installed in a room. The air distribution unit consists of a cabinet that has a receiving chamber that communicates externally and internally with said cabinet, an air inlet opening in said cabinet in communication with said receiving chamber and with said exterior, a first conduit of extraction in said cabinet in communication with said receiving chamber and with said exterior for expelling the air from said receiving chamber, said first air exhaust duct placed adjacent to the floor of a room, a second air exhaust duct placed adjacent to the ceiling of said room. a room, an air supply conduit in said cabinet having a first end in communication with said receiving chamber and a second end in communication with said air exhaust duct, and a damper communicating with said receiving chamber to establish in selectively the air path from said receiving chamber to the first conduit of expulsion of air or to the second air exhaust duct.

The air distribution unit 100 is typically installed in a room A. The unit is connected to an HVAC system by means of a conduit 9. The unit 100 will typically rest on the floor of a room although this is not necessary for its operation. For a better effect a free area is designated in front of the unit.

The front panel comprises the perforations 22 extending the entire length of the front panel. An outlet 18 discharges the air mixture from a lower portion of the unit. An outlet of the ejection conduit 20 discharges from the upper portion of the unit.

A damper (Fig. 5) regulates the air flow either from the outlet 18 or the dependent conduit 20 if heating or air conditioning is desired.

Figure 2 is a vertical plane front view of the unit.

The first air exhaust duct 17 discharges air through a portion of the outlet 18 of the front panel into an area that is adjacent to the floor of the room. The second air exhaust duct 20 discharges air from an upper part of the unit near the ceiling of a room.

The conduit 9 is connected to the unit by means of a collar 8.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the unit. The front panel 2 is perforated 22 and promotes the functions as a discharge grid for cold air. The perforations 22 cover the entire front panel with the exception of the outlet 18. The cabinet comprises the sides 4, 5, the rear part 3, the lower part 23 and the upper part 7.

The one-room floor provides a base for the first air exhaust duct 17. An alternative is that the panel 171 can be used at the bottom of the unit when the floor is not adequate to contain an air flow.

'Figure 3A is a detail of the front of the unit. The systematic controller 200 is installed on the front of the chamber 20 and the second air exhaust duct 10. The systematic controller 200 is installed behind a front cover 2 and is fixed to the frame 201. The frame 201 completes the enclosure of the chamber 20 and the second air exhaust duct 10. The ducts 10 and 20 are not in communication with the first air exhaust duct 17.

The systematic controller 200 allows a variable distribution of air direction of the room between the chamber 20 and the conduit 10 and the front cover 2.

Figure 4 is a partial perspective internal view of the unit. A receiving chamber 21 receives the air from an HVAC system. The receiving chamber 21 is placed in an upper portion of the cabinet to facilitate connection to the HVAC system. An air duct 1 connects the receiving chamber 21 with the first air ejection duct 17.

An actuator 16 is connected to the damper 14. The actuator 16 can include any unit known in the art and. It can be mechanical, pneumatic or electric. The actuator 16 is connected to a control unit 16a. The control unit 16a transmits a signal to the actuator 16 to control a position of the shock absorber. The control unit 16a can communicate with the actuator either by an RF signal or a cable connection.

The chamber 21 rests on the panel 41. The panel 41 defines a lower portion of the conduit 20. The panel 42 defines an upper portion of the conduit 17.

Figure 5 is a cross section of the unit. In this figure the unit is in the heating configuration. The damper 14 closes the air flow to the second air exhaust duct 20, thereby diverting hot air to the first air exhaust duct 17 and outlet 18. This in turn causes the hot air to be discharged near the floor of a room in compliance with good HVAC practice through exit 18.

The seal 14a prevents the flow of hot air back to the second air exhaust duct 20. The second air exhaust duct 20 and 10 are typically dedicated to cold air. The first air exhaust duct 17 is typically dedicated to hot air. The grid 2 allows the discharge of air from the chamber 10 and the 20.

Figure 5A is a detail of Figure 5. In the heating position, the shock absorber 14 rests against a frame 30. In the air conditioning position, the shock absorber 14 rests on the frame 31. It is preferable that the shock absorber 14 can not be stop at some intermediate position between the heating or air conditioning position to avoid an uncontrolled flow between the upper outlet and the lower outlet.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the unit. In this figure the unit is in an air conditioning configuration. The damper 14 closes the air flow to the first air exhaust duct 12, whereby it deflects the cold air to the second air exhaust duct 20 and 10. This in turn causes the cold air to be discharged near the air. ceiling of a room in compliance with good practice DV through conduit 20.

Figure 6A is a detail of Figure 6. In the air conditioning position, the damper 14 rests against a frame 31. In addition, the gasket 14a allows a supply of cold air to the duct 20 and consequently to the second duct of expulsion of the air. air 10. This provides a total flow of cold air at the floor level in the room. The seal 14a prevents it from returning to the conduit 12.

Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the unit. A grid 19 helps direct the air flow in the desired position.

Although forms of the invention have been described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations may be made in the construction and relationship of parts without departing from the principle and scope of the invention described herein.

Summary An air distribution unit comprising a cabinet that has a receiving chamber, said receiving chamber is in communication externally and internally of said cabinet, a first air expulsion duct in said cabinet in communication with said receiving chamber and said exterior for expelling the air from said receiving chamber towards a lower portion of the cabinet, a second air ejecting duct in said cabinet in communication with said receiving chamber and with said exterior for expelling the air from said receiving chamber towards an upper portion of the cabinet, an air supply duct in said cabinet having a first end in communication with said receiving chamber and a second end in communication with said first air ejection duct, and a damper communicating with said receiving chamber to selectively establish an air path from said receiving chamber either to ia the first air exhaust duct or towards said second air exhaust duct.

Claims

Claims I Claim:

1. An air distribution unit comprising: a cabinet (1) having a receiving chamber (21), said receiving chamber in external communication and internally of said cabinet; a first air exhaust duct (17) in said cabinet in communication with said receiving chamber and said exterior for expelling the air from said receiving chamber toward a lower portion of the cabinet; a second air expulsion duct (20) in said cabinet in communication with said receiving chamber and said exterior for expelling the air from said receiving chamber towards an upper portion of the cabinet; an air supply duct (12) in said cabinet having a first end in communication with said receiving chamber and a second end in communication with said first air ejection duct; Y a damper (14) communicating with said receiving chamber to selectively establish an air path from said receiving chamber either to the first air exhaust duct or to said second air exhaust duct.

2. The air distribution unit as in claim 1, wherein the first air exhaust duct is connected to the. receiving chamber through a conduit.

3. The air distribution unit as in claim 1, wherein the damper further comprises an actuator.

4. The air distribution unit as in claim 1, further comprising a mixing chamber in communication with the second air exhaust duct near the floor of a room.