US2640410A - Apparatus for air volume control in ventilating systems - Google Patents

Description

J1me 1953 G. K. RAIDEIR ETAL 2,640,410

APPARATUS FOR AIR VOLUME CONTROL IN VENTILATING SYSTEMS Fil ed Dec. 2; 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 1953 G. K. RAIDER ETAL 2,640,410

APPARATUS FOR AIR voumg CONTROL m VENTILATING SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 2, 1949 3 Sheds-Sheet 2 -?a I v ,5; X 44 I re 6/ jizzfeniars eargeifia zder 6/ 46% 4am m mz June 2, 1953 G. K. RAIDER ETAL APPARATUS FOR AIR VOLUME CONTROL IN YEN'1 ILATING SYSTEMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 2, 1949 L LIJQLQ fiYVEHL 02-5 gel Eqz'der Zdzzzazzd J Gear lllllfttlllilllfllll Patented June 2, 1953 APPARATUS FOR AIR VOLUME CONTROL IN VENTILATING SYSTEMS George K. Raider and Edmund J. Little, Chicago, 111., assignors to The Pyle National Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 2, 1949, Serial No. 130,734

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for controlling air volume in a ventilating system and more particularly relates to improvements in a ventilating arrangement for a railroad car or the like wherein a plurality of enclosures are serviced by individual pressure-displacement panel units, a system in which a predetermined pressure-volume relationship must be accurately maintained to produce uniform air distribution throughout the entire car.

According to the general features of the present invention, a railway car provided with a plurality of room enclosures, such as bedrooms, roomettes or compartments, as well as a corridor or an access aisle running therethrough, is equipped with duct means extending substantially the entire length of the car and adapted to carry pressurized, temperature-conditioned ventilating air. The duct means may be considered as defining a primary plenum chamber.

The primary plenum chamber is provided with a plurality of outlets, there being at least one outlet for each enclosure within the railway car, and a total displacement air control valve is placed in control of each respective outlet to admit controlled volumes of air from the primary plenum chamber through the outlets.

A secondary plenum chamber is provided in registry with each outlet, one wall of the secondary plenum chamber comprising a perforated distribution plate which may conveniently form part of the interior of the enclosure to be ventilated. The air from the primary plenum chamber enters the secondary plenum chamber at reduced pressure and low velocity and may be further diffused by the distribution plate upon being displaced into the enclosure. In this manner, ventilating air is supplied to each enclosure without detectable drafts and without objectionable noise due to the sound of rushing air.

In the event that ventilating requirements for each individual enclosure vary, the occupant of the enclosure may adjust the individual panel unit to vary the volume of air admitted to the enclosure. It is contemplated by the present invention that variations in pressure and volume occurring within the primary plenum chamber because of variable adjustments efiected in individual enclosures will be fully compensated by controlling the volume of air supplied in the primary plenum chamber so as to maintain substantially constant the pressure of the air.delivered to the individual panel units.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method of ventilating a plurality of enclosures whereby the supply of ventilating air may be stabilized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ventilating system suitable for furnishing conditioned air to'a plurality of enclosures and incorporating regulating means for controlling the volume of air in the'system so as to maintain substantially constant the pressure of the air within the system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ventilating system arrangement for a railway car or the like wherein the operation of the ventilating system may be substantially stabilized through the controlled recirculation of ventilating air to a transition duct communicating with an access aisle or with the atmosphere, or both.

Yet another object of thepresent invention is to provide improved volume control apparatus incorporating a unique relief valve assembly.

It is believed that the methods of operation contemplated by the present invention will be best understood from the description of the apparatus provided for practicing same.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detail description which follows and the annexed sheets of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional plan view of a railway car having a ventilating system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational enlarged detail view with parts in section showing a pressuresensitive relief valve according to the present inan additional embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view' of a railway car showing additional details of construction of the ventilating system of the present invention;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view with parts removed showing constructional details of a remote control device employed; and

Figure 9 is a side View of the device shown in Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings:

Although the present invention finds useful application in other 'environmentsi. it is of particular utility whenemployed in" connection with the ventilation of a plurality of crowded enclosures requiring the provision of large volumes of ventilating air which must berfurnished withoutdetectable drafts and without objectional noisedue to the sound of rushing air.

A particularly advanta-geous type ofventilating system for accomplishing these-ends isshownin Figures 1 and 7. A plurality of enclosures maysbe providedwith m a railway car indicated generally by the reference numeral I I), the enclosures including aknumber of bedrooms indicatediby the reference: numeral- I I and a numbenof-sma'ller compartments, such as" roomettesxwhich areiindicated by the reference numeral I2.

An access 'aisle I3 runs alongthelengthmfi the car Ill'so that persons enteringPeitherend ofzthe car IOupo-n theplatform' ldl may gain.- entrance to the respective: enclosures:

In-the" construction? offthei car, duct means I5 are preferably incorporated: in. the roof section of the car so as to define'a primaryFplenum 0 chamber" I11 extendingt'substantially the entire length of thecar;

Duct means" I8 defining-'5 a transition chamber I 9 :may. be provided at oneend of-the duct means I 6 in' communication with' the: primary plenum chamber IT.

The transition chamber l9: may be provided with a fresh air intake 201 extending through eachzside of the car I0to atmosphere and arecirculating. air'intake' 21' which; in. the embodi-- mentof Figure 1; is in communicationwithtthecorridor or aisle I Pressurizing means in r the form of a motor" 22 and a fan 23 are empl'oyedzto furnish pressurized.

air from the transition. chamber to'the-primary plenum chamber [1;

It will be understoodthati the usual" condition:- ing. elements may be" provided'so that onlyclean' filtered temper'aturemonditionedair will? be fur-- nished to-the primaryplenum chamber; I l; How'- ever, for the sakeof convenience" and clarity; corrdition'ing; elements are: shown: diagrammatically at 2'4";

The duct means I Bis provided-with a: plurality of outlets; there being atv least oneoutlet for each bedroom- H and eachroomette l2:

Each enclosure may be provided with ai-panel" control unitP f oreffe'cting: pressure-displace.- ment of ventilating air from the'primary'plenum chamber IT into the enclosure prop'en: Such panel control units are preferably constructed along the lines more particularly described in connection with my copending application; Serial No. 4,368, fiJedJanuary'ZB} 1948', now U'I S1 Patent No. 2,580,835.

A total displacement valve; including an ad'- justably movable valve plate 26= pivotally sup-- ported on a. hinge-27$ operates to" control the admission of air from the-primary plenum chamher I! through a diffuser 28 into a secondaryplenum chamber 29' defined by duct means 30. A perforated distribution plate 3I may form a common wall between the secondary plenum chamber-29 andtheenclosure to. be ventilated;

the perforated distribution plate 3I forming a part of the decorative treatment achieved within the enclosure.

Air entering the secondary plenum chamber 2e will be at reduced pressure and at low velocity and may be further diffused through the perforated distribution: plate 31:: so: as; to' be" furnished to. the. enclosure without detectable drafts and without excess movement likely to produce the sound of rushing air.

The valve plate 25 is normally biased toward anropenzposition-bya spring 47. However, the position of the valve plate 25 relative to the outlet. opening: may-be selectively varied by the oo- 1 cupant of: thezenclosure through a remote control device indicated generally by the reference numeral 48 (Figures 6-9) A Z'bracliet I'Qmay be afiixed to the valve plate'ifiito cooperate with a wire 50 sheathed by a cable 5| leading to the control device 48. The endtof the wireis connected to arack. 52 as at 53. The rack- 52 may be actuated'uponturning; a; knob fi l afiixedto a'gear 56 meshed withmaclc 52. A: click springtl is provided tostabilize the: gearassembly. Limit stops 58' arefastened to: the'wire 50 to cooperate with the abutmentil movable with the rack 52.

According to one embodiment. of thepresentinvention, the duct means lfi isprovidedxwith an additional: outlet 32 which isin communication: with the corridor or aisle l3 (Figure 2). In orderthatthe ceiling portion-of: the carstructure in the corridor oraisle. [3. may be unbroken; theoutlet-32 is preferably filled .in .witha perforated panel 335 A pressure-sensitive relief valve is provided to controlthe flow ofair from theprimary plenum chamber II outwardly. throughthe outlet-.32 into: the corridor or aisle. I3;

In-the preferred embodiment.hereinshownand described,. the duct. means it: comprises" a: duct-- which isgenerally rectangular. in cross section. A valve plate 34; alsesubstantially rectangular in-crosssection, is provided, the. valve plate-having adimensionof greater: length thanthecorresponding height'oftheduct Itsoas to be positionable therein: on a plane displacedafrom the vertical to close the: duct. and thereby control.- the flow" 0f air" therethroug'h.

Aihinge 36 is aifixed toone edge of the valve plate-t4 and to one wall of the ductmeans I6 so as to pivotally support the valve-plate 36: The opposite edge ofthe valve plate 34 restson the opposite walLof. the ductmeans- H5.

It-will-be apparent that one face of the valve plate 34. is exposed to. pressures developed within-the primary plenum chamber !'I. These pres-- sureswill operate to pivotaliy displace the valve plate 3 against the components'of force due tothe weight ofthe valve plate tending to hold-the. same in closed position.

In order. tosubstantially counterbalance; the valve. plate 34 and sensitize. the responsivenessthereof to the variationsin air pressureawithinr the" plenum chamber 2 1, a movably adjustable counterweight 31 isprov-ided. The counterweight- 31 may be adjustably positioned relative to. a. vertical reference plane passing through the pivot axis .of the-valve plate 34--so as*to:operate on.a radial. lever arm. extending. through the. pivot axis" Supportmeansmay be providedfor the counterweight 31 this. particular embodiment-- showing a web. 38 attached inrfirmlassembly to the plate 34 andhavingranarcuate slot SB'asuit- ;-able for passing a. threaded stud 31a. there.-

through. The counterweight 31 may be adjustably positioned anywhere along the length of the slot 38a by tightening a nut 3112 on the threaded stud 31a.

In operation, even though the volume controls in individual spaces are altered, delivery ofventilating air to the other spaces will not be changed because the valve plate 34 will open in response to incremental increases in pressure within the primary plenum chamber I! to dump the necessary quantity of air into the corridor or aisle [3 through the outlet 32 to maintain air pressure in the primary plenum chamber I! substantially constant.

By virtue of this arrangement, the corridor 0r aisle [3 functions virtually as a recirculating line since the volume of air dumped through the outlet 32 may eventually find its way back through the corridor intake 2! and into the transition chamber I9.

In Figure 4, a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 1 is illustrated wherein the duct means I6 is provided with an outlet 39 leading directly to the transition chamber 19. A valve 40 is placed in control of the outlet 39 and may be actuated by a suitable motor mechanism in dicated generally by the reference numeral 4| operating through a linkage 42. The motor mechanism 4! may be made responsive to pressure variations by energizing the motor mechanism 4| through appropriate conductors 43 leading to a pressure-sensitive control 44. In this embodiment, excess volumes of air will be bypassed to the transition chamber [9 upon any incremental increase of pressure within the primary plenum chamber H.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, valve "means 46 are provided to control the volume of air admitted to the primary plenumchamber by closing the valve means 46 on the intake side of the blower 23. The valve means 46, in one preferred form, may be defined by a damper of the louver type and may be controlled, as before, through a linkage 42 operated by a motor mechanism 4| connected by conductors 43 to a pressure-sensitive control 44.

In the embodiment of Figure 6, the individual control devices 48 of each enclosure are connected by a mechanical linkage to to a rheostat 6!. The rheostats 6| are incorporated in the energization circuit of the motor '22 shown by the conductors 62 to selectively vary the speed of the motor in response to variable demand requirements, thereby tending to maintain the pressure within the primary plenum chamber l1 constant.

Although persons skilled in the art might suggest minor modifications to our preferred embodiments, it should be understood that we do not propose to be limited to the precise details described merely for the sake of clarity but wish to embrace within the scope of this patent all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A ventilating system for a railway car or the like comprising a plurality of enclosures to be ventilated disposed along the length of the car, an access aisle therefore, a transition duct being in communication with the access aisle and the atmosphere, a main air duct along the length of the car, means to supply ventilating air from the transition duct to the main air duct under pressure, a plurality of control means for admitting varying volumes of air to each of the enclosures, and valve means responsive to pressure variations located between the main air duct and the access aisle to dump controlled quantities of ventilating air into said access aisle thereby to automatically maintain pressure within the main air duct at a substantially constant value.

2. A ventilating arrangement for a railway car of the type having a plurality of room enclosures and an access aisle therefor, comprising duct means along the length of the car to carry pressurized ventilating air, a plurality of control means to selectively admit variable volumes of air to each of the enclosures from the duct means, and pressure-sensitive relief valve means between the duct means and the access aisle of the car to discharge air from the duct means into the access aisle in response to pressure variations within the duct means.

3. A ventilating arrangement for a railway car of the type having a plurality of room enclosures and an access aisle therefor, comprising duct means along the length of the car to carry pressurized ventilating air, pressurizing means having an inlet in communication with the access aisle, conditioning means associated with the pressurizing means, a plurality of control means to selectively vary the volume of air admitted to each of the enclosures from the duct means, and pressure-sensitive relief valve means between the duct means and the access aisle of the car to recirculate air from the duct means through the access aisle to the pressurizing means in response to pressure variations within the duct means.

4. A ventilating system for a railway car having an access aisle and a plurality of enclosures to be ventilated disposed along the length of the car, a transition duct means at substantially atmospheric pressure and communicating with said access aisle, a main air duct along the length of the car, pressurizing means to supply ventilating air to the main air duct under pressure and being in communication with said transition duct means to obtain a portion of the supply of ventilating air therefrom, a plurality of control means for admitting varying volumes of air to each of the enclosures, and valve means responsive to pressure variations, said valve means being located between the main air duct and the access aisle to automatically return controlled quantities of ventilating air to said transition duct means and thereby maintain pressure within the main air duct at a substantially constant value.

5. A ventilating arrangement as defined in claim 2 wherein said relief valve plate means more particularly includes a pivotally mounted valve plate extending across the interior of said duct means and providing a reactor face subject to duct pressure, and adjustable counterweight means connected to said plate for selectively pivotally counterbalancing said plate for communication of said access aisle with said duct pressure at selected pressure values.

6. A ventilating arrangement as defined in claim 5 wherein said counterweight means includes a web carried by the valve plate and be ing substantially vertically disposed in a plane transverse to that defined by the valve plate and a mass supported by said web for adjustment relative to the pivot axis of the valve plate.

'7. A ventilating arrangement as defined in claim 2, said valve mean comprising a valve plate oi greater cfdss sctibml area than the" duct me'an's and being pwbfial-ly supported: from one wall 6-1 the ducfi 111663115 f6 ndrnfeflly lie across the ductjmesms on a: mane displacedirrom a, v81- tical referefice plhfi extending tz'irough the-pivot axis; 21 Wet? carnied by the valv plate an'd being,

to' selectively variably wounfirbaflande the-weight of the valve plate, whereby the' valve": plate will: be piVGtEl-IY difiplchd updn pidterminedi increases 6 in pres'sur witliin the duct means;

GEORGE- RAIIDER; EDMUND-u.

References Cited in thefile of this" patent UNITED STATES- PATENTS Number Name Date Whitlatch Mar. 22, 1910 Pfahl- Aug.21, 1-934.- Stacey, Jr. 6621. Nov. 27, 1934: Wagner July 21,1936 Heaton et a1 Dec. 22, 1936- Anderson Apr. 25,1939- Grant Feb; 20, 1940- Crawford et a1; Aug. 27-, 1940- Lewis Oct; 29", 1940' Leadbetter Aug; 5 1941 Murphy Dec. 23; 1941 Damerel Dec. 8,, 1942- 01215 Aug. 24, 1943 Hallinam Nov. 30, 1948=

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