NZ504794A - Ventilation diffuser - Google Patents

Abstract

A ventilation diffuser includes a housing 2 that fits into a ceiling and is attached to a ventilation duct. The housing has an opening 14 into which air deflector 3 is fitted. A barrier plate 4 can be fitted into the gap between the housing and deflector so as to control the direction of airflow from the diffuser. The barrier plate blocks airflow at selected places around the diffuser outlet and the position of the barrier plate can be adjusted to block different sections of the annular gap between the housing and deflector with the housing installed and the diffuser engaged with the housing.

Description

Patents Form No. 5 New Zealand PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION VENTILATION DIFFUSER We, IN-HOME VENTILATION LIMITED, a New Zealand company, of Unit 1, Glover Court, Glover Street, Ngauranga, Wellington, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: , INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 26 MAY 2080 RECEIVED TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a ventilation diffuser, and more particularly to a ventilation diffuser of the type used in a domestic ventilation system.

BACKGROUND In a domestic setting the comfortable ventilation of a room, that being such so as not to give occupants the feeling of being in a "draft", requires that the air flow not exceed a speed of 0.1 to 0.15 metres per second at adult head height.

Typically ventilation is used in homes as a means for reducing condensation build up and clearing musty smells. In a standard sized house in New Zealand that typically requires an injection of between 60 and 80 litres per second of fresh air into the dwelling to force out a corresponding volume of stale, moist, air.

Known diffusers have one or more of the following disadvantages: they produce a downwardly directed air draft which causes discomfort for occupants of the corresponding room, and/or they cannot be placed relatively near a wall without producing adverse bouncing of the ventilation flow against that wall, which again causes discomfort to room occupants.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a ventilation diffuser of the which substantially avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages, or at least which provides the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broadest aspect the invention provides a ventilation diffuser including a housing, diffuser mounting means a deflector means, and at least one barrier means, wherein: 2 said housing has a top, a bottom, side walls, barrier mounting means, and deflector attachment means, said top has an air inlet aperture means adapted to, in use, be connected to an air supply duct, said bottom has an air outlet through which, in use, air may egress the housing, and said deflector attachment means is configured and arranged to, in use, mount the deflector means adjacent, and substantially in front of, the mouth of the air outlet; said deflector means has a deflector mounting means, and a deflector plate, said deflector mounting means being configured and arranged to, in use, engage with the deflector attachment means of the housing and maintain the deflector plate in spaced apart relationship from the mouth of the air outlet of the housing, said deflector plate being shaped to substantially cover the mouth of the outlet thereby, in use, causing air departing the housing to exit via the gap between the outlet mouth and the deflector plate; and said barrier means can be engaged with the housing barrier mounting means to, in use block part or parts of the said gap the outlet mouth of the housing and the deflector plate thereby preventing air from departing the diffuser in the sector of the said gap blocked by the barrier means.

Preferably housing mount and deflector plate are each configured and arranged so that, in use, the said gap between the deflector plate and the housing mouth is substantially uniform along its full length.

Desirably the deflector plate is configured and arranged such that when mounted on the housing, and in use, air passing through the housing and out the outlet is forced to turn substantially perpendicularly to its original flow path to exit via the said gap. 3 Advantageously the diffuser includes flow direction transition means to, in use, assist air passing through the housing to smoothly change direction to exit via the said gap.

Conveniently the housing outlet is larger than the inlet aperture means. Optimally the housing wall adjacent the outlet mouth curves outwardly from the vertical towards the horizontal.

Desirably the housing outlet is substantially circular, and preferably the housing is substantially bell shaped.

Preferably the deflector plate is substantially disk shaped.

Desirably the disk shaped deflector plate has a diameter greater that the diameter of the circular mouth of the housing outlet.

Advantageously the deflector plate can be domed at its centre to facilitate smooth air flow. Optimally the said gap between the deflector plate and the housing outlet mouth is a complete annulus, with the deflector plate and outlet mouth being configured and arranged to, in use, cause the air exiting the annular gap to flow at substantially 90 degrees to the air flow direction upon original entry into the housing.

Desirably the deflector plate and housing are configured and arranged to, in use, cause air exiting via the annular gap to flow at an angle substantially co-planar with the annulus. Alternatively the air flow can be at an angle of up to 15 degrees from the plane of the annulus.

Preferably the barrier means comprise plates which can be inserted to block air flow from sectors of the said gap. 4 Desirably the barrier plates releasably engage with the housing via the barrier mounting means. Preferably the barrier plates are releasably located in position between the deflector plate and housing.

Conveniently the barrier means can be relocated to block different sectors of the said gap while the diffuser is in an installed situation.

Conveniently one or more barrier means may be combined to block any sector of the said gap between 30 degrees and 300 degrees.

It is apparent therefore that the invention provides a ventilation diffuser which is adapted to selectively set the directional flow pattern around it according to any particular need to avoid undesirable bouncing against any nearby wall, partition, or obstacle and to prevent unwanted flow in any angular direction around the diffuser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ventilation diffuser according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the housing and air barriers of the diffuser of figure 1; Figure 3 sectional view of the diffuser of figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a barrier from the diffuser of figure 1; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of a room in which a diffuser according to figure 1 has been installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, a diffuser according to the invention is generally indicated at 1. The diffuser 1 comprises a housing 2, a deflector plate 3, and at least one barrier strip 4.

The housing 2 has a top 5, a bottom 6, and sides 7. The housing 2 is generally tubular in shape, but with its bottom 6 end flaring outwardly. Both the top 5 and the bottom 6 are open. Additionally the housing includes a deflector plate attachment means 8, and a mounting flange 9.

The flange 9 comprises a ring extending perpendicularly from the bottom end of the housing 2, and has a number of apertures 19 therethrough to permit screw mounting of the diffuser 1 to a ceiling or other mounting surface.

The side walls 7 of the housing 2 are generally perpendicular to the circular axis of the housing 2 at the top 5, but generally curve outwardly as they approach the flange 9, such that the general shape and configuration of the housing 2 is of a bell shape.

The deflector plate attachment means 8 is generally located adjacent the top 5 end of the housing 2, and is a female threaded tube 10 located at the central axis of the housing 2 and held in that position by way of web member s 11.

The top 5, being open, forms the inlet aperture 12 of the diffuser 1, and an air supply duct can be attached to the diffuser 1 at that position. The bottom end 6, also being open, forms the air outlet 13, and in particular adjacent the flange 9 forms an outlet mouth 14. Spaced around the flange 9 at the mouth 14 are a plurality of barrier plate strip mounts 15. 6 The deflector plate 3 comprises a deflector dish 16 and an elongate threaded mounting screw 17.

The mounting screw 17 is adapted to, in use, screw into the threaded tube 10 of the housing 2. The proximity of the deflector dish 16 to the mouth 14 of the housing being governed by how far into the threaded tube 10 the mounting screw 17 is addressed.

The deflector dish 16 is configured and arranged to substantially cover and extend beyond the mouth 14 of the outlet 13, thus, in use, causing air departing the housing to exit via the gap left between the outlet mouth 14 and the peripheral edge of the deflector dish 16.

The deflector plate 3 and housing 2 engage with one another such that, in use, the gap between the deflector dish 16 and the housing mouth 14 is a substantially uniform annular one. With the deflector dish 16 being domed at its centre smooth air flow is facilitated and, in use, air exiting the annular gap flows at substantially 90 degrees to the air flow direction upon original entry into the housing 2. Thus, and as shown in figure 5 in particular, air leaving the diffuser 1 is caused to disburse at approximately parallel to the mounting surface 100. However, and equally, the air flow can be at an angle of up to 15 degrees from the plane of the annulus.

Barrier strips 4 can be engaged with the housing barrier strip mounts 15 to, in use block part or parts of the annular gap between the outlet mouth 14 of the housing and the peripheral edge of the deflector dish 16 thereby preventing air from departing the diffuser 1 in the sector of the gap blocked by the barrier strip(s) 4.

The barrier strips 4 are held in position by engagement with the strip mounts 15 , and by screwing the deflector dish 16 up to push the strip(s) 4 up against the flange 9. 7 The strips 4 can equally be released by unscrewing the deflector dish 16 and dropping the strips 4 out of the mounts 15. This feature enables quick and convenient alteration of the strip 4 location around the mount 14, and thus, in use, fine tuning of the air flow direction.

Any number of barrier strips 4 may be used depending on the circumstances and air directional requirements. For convenience each strip 4 should ideally take up between 45 and 90 degrees of potential air flow direction - ie should block out between one eighth and one quarter of the annular gap.

Installation of the diffuser in a ceiling, as shown in figure 5, is a relatively straight forward exercise. Firstly the desired location is identified. Next a hole 30 is cut in the ceiling 100 and the diffuser 1 inserted. If necessary the air supply duct 101 can be attached to the air inlet 12 of the diffuser at this point using methods well known to those skilled in the art.

Next the diffuser 1 is pushed up into position, oriented approximately, and screws used to attach the diffuser 1 to the ceiling using the mounting holes 19.

The deflector dish 16 is partially screwed into position, and then barrier strips 4 as required inserted. Finally the dish 16 is screwed up tight to hold the barrier strips 4 in position and prevent rattling in use. With the ventilation system generating air flow fine tuning of the location of the barrier strips 4 can be carried out to ensure that air flow direction is optimal.

As the schematic drawing of figure 5 shows, the diffuser 1 of the present invention is ideally suited to location above a heat source 103. As the hot air 104 rises it is mixed with the air entering the room via the diffuser 1, and the resultant mixed air 105 is circulated across the ceiling and flows to circulate down the and throughout the room. As the introduced air mixes with air already in the room it slows, and so as the mixing occurs above head height little or no draft is felt by room occupants. 8 The barrier strips 4 enable the diffuser 1 to be mounted in the ceiling 100 at any point in the room, as bouncing of the ventilation flow against a nearby wall or obstacle and an undesirable speed of flow in any particular direction can be quickly and conveniently controlled.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a simple and effective advancement in the art.

Wherein the foregoing reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent for those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated. Thus, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims. 9

Claims (19)

What we claim is:

1. A ventilation diffuser including a housing, diffuser mounting means, a deflector means, and at least one barrier means, wherein: said housing has a top, a bottom, side walls, barrier mounting means, and deflector attachment means, said top has an air inlet aperture means adapted to, in use, be connected to an air supply duct, said bottom has an air outlet through which, in use, air may egress the housing, and said deflector attachment means is configured and arranged to, in use, mount the deflector means adjacent, and substantially in front of, the mouth of the air outlet, said deflector means has a deflector mounting means, and a deflector plate, said deflector mounting means being configured and arranged to, in use, engage with the deflector attachment means of the housing and maintain the deflector plate in spaced apart relationship from the mouth of the air outlet of the housing, said deflector plate being shaped to substantially cover the mouth of the outlet thereby, in use, causing air departing the housing to exit via the gap between the outlet mouth and the deflector plate, and said barrier means being engageable with the housing barrier mounting means to, in use, block part or parts of the said gap between the outlet mouth of the housing and the deflector plate thereby preventing air from departing the diffuser in the sector of the said gap blocked by the barrier means, the ventilation diffuser being characterised in that the position of the barrier means can be adjusted to block different sectors of the said gap while the diffuser remains in an installed situation with the deflector means engaged with the housing. Intsltaoiuci1 Otfico ot ■£ 1 - 3 OCT 200! 10 n f r c n' r 3- {yl & y j

A diffuser according to claim 1 wherein the housing outlet mouth and the deflector plate are each configured and arranged so that, in use, the said gap between the deflector plate and the housing mouth is substantially uniform along its full length.

A diffuser according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the deflector plate is configured and arranged such that when mounted on the housing, and in use, air passing through the housing and out the outlet is forced to turn substantially perpendicularly to its original flow path to exit via the said gap.

A diffuser according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the diffuser includes flow direction transition means to, in use, assist air passing through the housing to smoothly change direction to exit via the said gap.

A diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing outlet is larger than the inlet aperture means.

A diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing wall adjacent the outlet mouth curves outwardly from the vertical towards the horizontal.

A diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing outlet is substantially circular.

A diffuser according to claim 7 wherein the housing is substantially bell shaped.

A diffuser according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the deflector plate is substantially disk shaped. Intellectual Property Office of iM.Z. - 3 OCT 2001 11 RECEIVED '0 *

10. A diffuser according to claim 9 wherein the disk shaped deflector plate has a diameter greater that the diameter of the circular mouth of the housing outlet.

11. A diffuser according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the deflector plate is domed at its centre to facilitate smooth air flow.

12. A diffuser according to any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the said gap between the deflector plate and the housing outlet mouth is a complete annulus, with the deflector plate and outlet mouth being configured and arranged to, in use, cause the air exiting the annular gap to flow at substantially 90 degrees to the air flow direction upon original entry into the housing.

13. A diffuser according to any one of claims 7 to 12 wherein the deflector plate and housing are configured and arranged to, in use, cause air exiting via the annular gap to flow at an angle substantially co-planar with the annulus.

14. A diffuser according to any one of claims 7 to 12 wherein the deflector plate and housing are configured and arranged to, in use, cause air exiting via the annular gap to flow at an angle of up to 15 degrees from the plane of the annulus.

15. A diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the barrier means comprises plates which can be inserted to block air flow from sectors of the said gap.

16. A diffuser according to claim 15 wherein the barrier plates releasably engage with the housing via the barrier mounting means. Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 3 OCT 12 ~

17. A diffuser according to claim 16 wherein the barrier plates are releasably located in position between the deflector plate and housing.

18. A diffuser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more barrier means may be combined to block any sector of the said gap between 30 degrees and 300 degrees.

19. A diffuser substantially as herein described or exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings. In-Home Ventilation Limited By their authorised attorneys Peter Verboeket and Company Per: Intellectual Property Office of 3 OCT 2 13