US2304628A

US2304628A - Ventilating air distributing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2304628A
Application number: US277335A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Damerel
Original assignee: Burgess Battery Co
Current assignee: Burgess Battery Co
Priority date: 1939-06-05
Filing date: 1939-06-05
Publication date: 1942-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1959-12-08

Description

Dec. 8, 1942. A, DA EREL 2,304,628

VENTILATING AIR DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1939 @j/ZZd/E alalizezz Dec. 8, 1942.

w. A. DAMEREL 2,304,628

VENTILATING AIR DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1939 Q jawere/ QAMM Q .which a distributing duct extending along a Patented Dec. 8, 1942 VENTILATING AIR DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS mesne assignments, to

pany, Chicago,

William A. Damerel, Winnetka, Ill., assignor, by

Burgess Battery Com- Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application June 5, 1939, Serial No. 217,335

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in airdistributing apparatus for ventilating systems, and pertains particularly to that type of airdistributing apparatus in which the ventilating air is introduced into an enclosure through a perforated or otherwise apertured panel of large area. in comparison with the ordinary ventilating g e.

Air-distributing apparatus 'of the above type in wall or ceiling of the enclosure to be ventilated is separated from the enclosure by a double panel of sheet-like apertured members in spaced parallel relation to each other has recently been commercially adopted and is now widely used for distributing conditioned air into closed vehicles, especially in railway coaches and motor buses. The distributing duct is generally located overhead and the double panel air distributor forms at least a portion of the ceiling of the enclosure.

The inner panel, which is not visible from within the enclosure, may be provided with a number of distributed openings which permit the passage of air from the distributing duct into the space between the panels, or this pane1 may have a single opening provided with means for spreading and diffusing the air passing through it from the distributing duct. Structure of the former type is more fully described in the Ralph F. Norris Patent No. 2,172,944, dated September 12, 1939, and structure of the latter type is more fully described in Ralph L. Leadbetter copending patent application Serial No. 205,403, filed May 2, 1938. Both of these types of apparatus include an exposed panel having a large number of perforations, or being otherwise foraminated, spaced from the inner panel just described. The

I inner panel is generally referred to as the control pane1 since it functions, due to its limited opening area, to restrict the flow of air from the distributing duct, in this way causing the maintenance of an appreciable static pressure in the distributing duct. This pressure condition is desired to obtain proper distribution of air from the duct and also to enable adjustment of the volumes of air entering the enclosure at any particular zone of the distributor. The perforated exposed facing member is usually designated the distributing panel since it servesto further spread the air stream and is the final outlet of the air distributor. More than two panels may be used, if desired.

Experience has shown that it is necessary to remove one or both of the air-distributing panels frequently for the purpose of removing accumujust under the roof.

lations of foreign materials deposited by the ventilating air. This is necessary in view of the inability of filters to remove more than a part only of the with the air taken into the system. In order to minimize maintenance costs and make the construction commercially practical, the air-distributing panels must be conveniently and quickly demountable.

The object of this invention, specifically, is to provide air-distributing apparatus of the type above described which may be conveniently demounted for servicing. The invention resides in the method and means of mounting the distributor assembly. A further object isto provide means for temporarily disassembling the apparatus either as a double panel unit or by opening the distributing panel only, as desired by the operator. A further purpose of the invention is to attain these objects by simple and inexpensive means. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the air distributor assembly in a railway car;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the assembly of Fig. 1 taken transversely of the railway car; and

Figs. 3 and 4 show different embodiments of the invention in transverse section.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1 and 2, the former illustrates the air-distributing apparatus in assembled state and in both stages of disassembly. The air-distributing apparatus forms the ceiling of the sleeping car illustrated. A distributing duct l extends lengthwise of the car If the car is provided with a clerestory, the duct may be disposed in it. Proper insulation should be provided between the duct and the exterior wall of the car to prevent, so far as possible, cooling of the ventilating air in the winter time and warming in the summer time. An air-distributing unit consists, essentially, of a control panel 2 and a perforated distributing panel 3; The control panels of the units form the floor of the distributing duct and the distributing panels are exposed to the interior of the railway car. As most clearly shown in Fig. 2, an opening 4 is provided in control panel .2 through which air may flow downwardly from distributing duct I into the space between

panels

2 and 3. A valve plate or shutter 5, adjustable by means of spindle 6, may be used to regulate the rate of flow of air from the distributing duct through opening 4. Spring cradles I maintain a tension in spindle 6 and prevent rattling of the valve plate against the conuting panel. Opening l may be trol panel. A baflle diffusing device which operates to spread and diffuse the stream of air passing from the distributing duct through opening 4 is shown at 8. Opening 9 is provided in the diflusing device for access to spindle 8 in adjusting the air flow control valve, and opening l0 may be provided if it is desired to make adJustments of air flow without disturbing the distribnormally closed by a removable plug.

The above brief description has been given in order that the invention may be entirely clear although this apparatus is described in the Ralph L. Leadbetter patent application above referred to.

The air-distributing panels are mounted in an unique and ingenious manner for the purposes hereinbefore stated. In the particular arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2 the air-distributing units, each consisting of a control and a distributing panel, are arranged two abreast throughout the length of the car. Control panel 2 and distributing panel 3 are fastened together and the unit supported along its outside edge to structural member H by means E2. The control panel is fastened to wing 93, the distributing panel is fastened to wing it and wing 45 of the hinge is fastenedto the angle iron H. The inner edges of th distributor units are supported by channel 6. The control panels and distributing panels are preferably independently supported along their inside edges, fiat headed screws ll! supporting control panels 2 and screws 58 which pass through a batten strip l9 supporting distributing panels 3. The two transversely adjoining distributing panels may be separately supported, if desired, but since both of these panels would ordinarily be dropped together for cleaning purposes, the arrangement illustrated is preferred.

It will now be seen that the inside surfaces of the air-distributing panels and of the distributing duct l are easily accessible for servicing purposes. For a superficial run-end servicing the distributing panel 3 may be dropped alone so that its inside surface and diffusing element 8 may be cleaned. This is illustrated on the left side of Fig. 1. The entire distributing apparatus of the unit on the right side of Fig. 1 has been lowered for a complete periodic servicing, the panels may be quickly swung back into place and the supporting screws replaced,

The embodiment of Fig. 3 employs the simple form of control panel hereinbefore mentioned. Sheet metal or some suitable artificial wood material may be used. If metal is used, it is desirable to re-enforce the sheet by turning up the edges to form a flange 2|. A number of distributed perforations or apertures are punched in this panel, all as more fully described in the Ralph F. Norris patent referred to above. Both the control panel 20 and distributing panel 22 extend between the half deck portions 23 of the railway car. Distributing duct 24 is housed by clerestory 25.

In this embodiment of the invention ordinary two-

wing hinges

26 and 21 are used in mounting the panels of the air-distributing apparatus.

Channel members

28 and 29 are fastened to the structural members of the car. Distributing panel 22 is mounted to the lower leg 30 of channel 28 by means of hinge 26 and control panel 20 is supported at the opposite side of the distributing duct to leg 3| of channel 29 by means of binge 21. The free edge of control panel 20 of a three-wing piano hinge cleaning. After of the hinge 26 when is demountably fastened to the upper leg 32 of channel member 28 and the free edge of distributing panel 22 is adapted to seat against the lower leg 33 of channel 29. Suitable screws or other means may be used to fasten the free edges to their respective supports. As shown in the drawing, upper legs 3| and 32 of

channel members

29 and 28 extend inwardly beyond the lower legs of the channel members. This enables control panel 20 to swing clear of the lower legs and distributing panel 22 is in the open position and it is desired to drop the control panel also. Obviously the distributing panel may be dropped independently of the control panel. This will permit ready access to the control panel for cleaning or adjustment of the open area thereof, the latter adjustment usually being made by plugging all but the desired number of holes.

A further arrangement is illustrated in Fig, 4. Here only a portion of the ceiling of the railway car is used for the purpose of introducing ventilating air into the interiorof the car, the middle portion 33 being used for lighting fixtures. The air-distributing units consisting of control panels 34 and distributing panels 35 are arranged in end-to-end abuting relationship throughout the length of the car. The panels of the units are hingedly supported along their inner edges by means of three-wing hinges 36 and 31. As described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, each of two of the wings of the hinges are fastened to edges of control panel 34 and distributing panel 35, respectively, and the remaining wing is fastened to one of the structural members 38. The outside or free edges of the panels are demountably fastened to angle irons 33 provided at the sides of the distributing duct 40.

When the panels of the arrangement of Fig. 4 are opened for servicing purposes, both surfaces are readily accessible.

In all embodiments of the invention, the airdistributing units may be hinged to a wall of the distributing duct or to another structure, such as the duct or to an adjacent structural member.

The importance of the novel constructions herein disclosed will be readily apparent to those part of the duct S pporting means,

with the air-conditioning of passenger compartments of vehicles. A serious obstacle, the dirtying of the air-distributing apparatus, has been obviated by providing readily cleanable distributoccupancy.

I claim:

swung outwardly inside surfaces of said unit and of said duct.

2. In a ventilating system for an enclosure,

means for distributing ventilating air into said enclosure comprising a distributing duct having at least a portion of one side open for communication of said duct with said enclosure, and an air-distributing panel unit arranged in and substantially closing the open portion of said duct, said unit being composed of a plurality of spaced, superposed apertured panel members each of which is hingedly supported for manipulation independently of other panel members normally disposed inwardly thereof with respect to said duct, whereby to provide ready access to the surfaces of said panel members and the inside surfaces of said duct.

3. In a ventilating system for an enclosure, means for distributing ventilating air into said enclosure comprising a distributing duct having at least a portion of one side open for communication of said duct with said enclosure, and an airdistributing panel unit arranged in the open portion of said duct, said unit being composed of a plurality of superposed apertured panel members, and a hinge having a single spindle and a plurality of sets of independently operating wings, each of said panel members one edge by one set of wings of said hinge, said hinge being supported at one side of said exposed side of said duct.

4. Ventilating air distributing apparatus for a vehicle comprising a distributing duct extending lengthwise subjacent the roof thereof; at least one air-distributing panel unit associated with said duct; said unit comprising a perforated distributing panel forming at least a portion of the ceiling of the vehicle enclosure and being hingedly mounted along one edge thereof to the lower edge of one side of said duct, and a control panel having at least one opening therein and forming the floor of said duct, said control panel including a peripheral frame hingedly mounted along one edge thereof to said lower edge of said duct and being adapted to space said control panel above said distributing panel.

5. Ventilating air distributing railway car having a clerestory, said comprising an apertured distributing panel hingedly mounted along the lower portion of one side of said clerestory at one edge thereof and demountably fastened to the other side of said clerestory at the opposed edge thereof, and an apertured control panel spaced above said disapparatus for a being supported at apparatus tributing panel and hingedly mounted along one edge to a side of said clerestory and demountably fastened at the opposite edge to the other side of said clerestory.

6. Ventilating air distributing apparatus for a railway car having a clerestory comprising a distributing duct arranged within said clerestory, air-distributing panel units arranged two abreast and forming at least a portion of the floor of said duct, hinge means for supporting said units along the edges thereof adjacent the clerestory side walls, means for supporting the free edges of said units and demountable means for fastening said free edges to said supporting means.

7. Ventilating air distributing apparatus for a railway car having a clerestory comprising a distributing duct arranged within said clerestory, a stationary ceiling strip extending lengthwise of the car at the middle portion thereof only, and air distributing panel arranged between said ceiling strip and the sides of said clerestory, the edges of said units adjacent said stationary ceiling strip being hingedly mounted thereto and the edges of said units adjacent the sides of said clerestory being demountably fastened thereto.

8. In a ventilating system for an enclosure, means for distributing ventilating air into said enclosure comprising a distributing duct having at least a portion of one side open for communication of said duct with said enclosure, and an air-distributing panel unit arranged in and substantially closing the open portion of said duct, said unit comprising a control panel having at least one opening therein and a perforated distributing panel in spaced substantially parallel relation to said control panel, said control panel being hingedly supported along one edge thereof.

9. In a ventilating system for an enclosure, means for distributing ventilating air into said enclosure comprising a distributing duct having at least a portion of one side open for communication of said duct with said enclosure, and an air-distributing panel unit arranged in and substantially closing the open portion of said duct, said unit comprising an apertured control panel and a perforated distributing panel in spaced substantially parallel relationship to each other, said distributing panel being hingedly supported along one edge thereof.

' WILLIAM A. DAMEREL.