US2982197A - Modular air diffuser - Google Patents

Description

M 2 1 61 J. A. ROBERTS 2, 82,1 7

ay 9 MODULAR AIR DIFFUSER Filed Sept. 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mum I W INVENTOR. chmss ,4. ossers May 2, 1961 J. A. ROBERTS MODULAR AIR DIFFUSER V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jams: A @0552]! w 4% v United States Patent MODULAR AIR DIFFUSER James A. Roberts, 1907 Lorene St., Whittier, Calif. Filed Sept. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 760,638 4 2 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) This invention relates to devices for controlling the flow of air into a room or like enclosure, and more particularly to an improved louvered diifuser apparatus for selectively directing and controlling air flow.

Louvered air diffusers of the prior art are generally designed to effect the flow of air into a room in different directions. However, in none of these is it possible to selectively control, at the diffuser, both the effective area and the volume of air flow therethrough into a desired part of the room.

Some diffusers have no movable elements, and therefore no means'to control the effective area of air flowing from a duct to which the diffuser is attached, and the only way in which the volume of air flowing into the room can be controlled with such diffusers is to vary the pressure of air flowing through the duct.

Most louvered air diffusers are equipped with movable bafiles or vanes to be used in conjunction with fixed louvers, such vanes being movable simultaneously to equally restrict or enlarge the areas through which air flows in different directions therethrough. Thus, although this type of diifuser provides means for controlling the eifective neck or throat area, it is not possible with such structures to control air flow so that the volume of air entering a room in one direction is different from that entering the room in another direction.

With the movable vane diffusers of the prior art, the

volume of air directed to different parts of the room is substantially the same. In mounting such a diffuser, the conventional procedure is to locate the diifuser so that air flow into the room is relatively well distributed. However, and as is well known, there are many factors'which prevent the selected setting for the vanes from being much better than a compromise. Such factorsinclude the size and placement of walls, windows, fireplaces, doorways and furnishings.

In many situations, it can readily be determined that for maximum comfort in all parts of a room,'the volume and thrust of air in the different parts of the room will differ. However, with the prior art diffusers, the best that can be accomplished is to adjust the movable vanes to provide what appears to be relatively satisfactory distribution of air in two or three directions, and let that sufiice. In the remaining direction or directions, the room is almost always too hot or too cold, depending upon the setting of the vanes.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved louvered air diffuserof a movable vane type, wherein the vanes are individually adjustable, and wherein the adjustment of vanes associated with louvers oriented in a particular direction eifects accurate control of both the effective area and the volume of air flow through the louvers in that direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved diffuser structure having separate modules or cores, each including fixed louvers and movable damper or vane elements, wherein the modules and the vanes are adapted to be positioned to control the direction of air ICC component parts of simple design, capable of being readily assembled and adjusted to effect distribution of air for optimum comfort in all parts of a room.

It is still another object of this invention to provide im proved air control means suitable for directing the flow of air into a room, and which has selectively adjustable elements for permitting the diffuser to be adjusted at the site of installation'to effect distribution of air for maximum comfort in all parts of the room.

The above and other objects and advantages of'this invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling air diffuser having modules positioned for directing air into a room in four directions;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1, showing the arrangement of individual' bafiles'or vanes for selectively controlling the effective area in a module;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 2, showing how the modules are fitted into their surrounding frames;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 2, showing how the vanes are pivotally mounted;

Figures 5-9 are schematic diagrams of different arrangements of four modules to show how they can be oriented and utilized to control both the effective area and the volume of air flow in different directions therethrough; Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a rectangular array of four modules, to illustrate the adaptability of the modular construction of this invention to different forms;

Figure 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a diffuser employing two modules for directing air from a corner 7 into the interior of a room; and

Figure 12 is an exploded view of the parts of the diffuser of Figure 1, showing clearly how the parts fit within each other.

Referring to the drawings, a ceiling air diffuser 10 is provided with an outer frame 11 which fits into the ceiling, indicated at 12 in Figure l. The frame 11 has a square central shell 14 which extends into a duct opening 15 (see Figure 2) in the ceiling 12. The lower edge of the shell 14 terminates in an outwardly flaring square brim 16 which slopes downwardly, as indicated 7 at 17, and which is turned up at its edges, as at 18, so

as to abut the ceiling 12.

Snugly fitted within the outer shell 14 is an inner frame 20, disposed at the same angle as the sloping section 17 of the frame 11. Preferably, and as shown, the

sloping portion 17 is shaped, as by crimping, so that the portion thereof adjacent the lower edge of the shell 14 is offset from the remaining portion thereof by the thickness of the flared portion 17' of the frame 20. In this manner, the outer surfaces of the portion 17' and '17 are coterminous, so as to provide a smooth surface. The portion 17 of the frame 20 is secured to the portion 17, as by metal screws 21.

Supported within the frame 2% are four cores or modules 2'5, 26, 27 and 28- (see Figure 12) each con- 3 The louvers are fixed within respective square frames 30, 31, 32 and 33 which, upon being placed together, fit snugly within the square frame 20.

As illustrated, the louvers of each section face in the same direction. Their slopes are the same, and such is also the slope of the portions 17, 17 of the respective frames 11 and 20. Thus, for each module illustrated in Figure 1, there are four equal openings through which air can pass from the duct 15.

Preferably, the shells 30, 31, 32 and 33 can be assembled on the frame 20 with their louvers facing in any one of four directions. As shown in Figure 1, these shells are oriented so that they can direct air in four directions. However, and as illustrated by the arrows in Figures 9 to indicate the direction in which the louvers are pointed, the shells may be oriented to effect diffusion of air into the room, in three or two directions, or even in one direction.

In order that the shells 30, 31, 32 and 33 can each be positioned within the frame 20 so that their louvers are oriented in a desired one of four directions, each such shell is exactly the same. size and shape. Each side of each shell is provided with two spaced openings 40 at its upper edge (see Figure 12) so that when the shell is inserted in a corner of the frame 20, the openings 40 on adjacent sides thereof are aligned with corresponding openings 41 on adjacent sides of the frame 26. After the shells are thus assembled on the frame 20, elongated bolts 42 (see Figure 2) are passed through the aligned openings in the frame 20 and the shells. The bolts 42 are threaded at one end, where a respective nut 43 is secured to tighten the shells within the frame 2%).

In each shell, a respective vane element is provided adjacent each louver for adjusting the area through which air can flow. Since the vane and louver construction for each of the modules is the same, the following description will be directed to the construction within one of the shells 30, which is illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

As shown, each of the louvers 25 includes a vertical portion 25" which is secured, as by welding, to the shell 30. Forward of each vertical section 25" is a respective vane element 45 which is pivotally mounted on the shell 30, as on pins 46 secured to opposite sides of the shell. Limit stop projections 48 are provided on the shell 30 below the pins 46 to limit clockwise movement of the vanes 45 beyond the point where the vane is substantially in a vertical position. The width of each vane 45 is such that it can be moved counterclockwise to a point where its opposite edges abut adjacent louvers, as indicated in phantom line in Figure 2, to close off the air passages therebetween. Furthermore, the vanes are all in the open position on mounting the structure in place. Thereafter, a simple rod tool is thrust from the front of the structure and pressed against the lower edge of a vane to be closed; pushing on the vane causes it to rotate to the closed position. Pressing on a vane to move it to the closed position is necessary to overcome the frictional on the ends 46. Such friction is, of course, the reason force which holds the vane in the open position, such friction being established by the frictional fit of the vane the vane remains in any position to which it is forced.

In order to understand how the above described structure controls the volume (i.e., cubic feet per minute) and the effective area through which air flows in any direction, its operation will be described qualitatively, as for a frictionless structure, and somewhat over-simplified. Assume that air at a give npressure flows through the duct 15, and that the vanes in all the modules are in the open position. In such an arrangement, it will be seen that the effective area of each module is the same, that the volume of air (i.e., cubic feet per minute) flowing through each module is one-fourth of the total, and that the thrust of air through each module is the same.

If two of the vanes 45 in one module 25 are placed in the closed position, the effective throat area ofthat module is reduced one half. However, the volume of air flowing through the module 25 is also reduced. This will readily be understood when it is considered that the total volume of air must now flow through fourteen small areas rather than the sixteen small areas (four per module), that were available before the two vanes 45 were closed.

With all the vanes open, one-sixteenth of the total volume flows through each small throat area, whereby four-sixteenths, or one-fourth, of the total volume flows through each module. When the two vanes 45 of the module 25 are closed, leaving the fourteen small throat areas, one-fourteenth of the total volume of air flows through each small area. Accordingly, four-fourteenths, or two-sevenths, of the total volume flows through each of the modules 26, 27 and 28, and two-fourteenths, or one-seventh, of the total volume flows through the module 25.

Thus, it will be seen that upon closing two of the vanes 45 of the module 25, the throat area is reduced by one-half, and the volume of air flowing therethrough is reduced from one-fourth to one-seventh. Simultaneously, the volume of air flowing through the remaining modules 26, 27 and 28 is increased from one-fourth to tWo-sevenths, although their total effective areas remain the same.

In another arrangement wherein the four modules are oriented in different directions (see Figure 8) one module 25 has all of its vanes 45 in the open position, a second module 26 has two vanes in the closed position, as indicated at 50, a third module 27 has one vane in the closed position, as indicated at 51, and the fourth module 28 has three of its vanes in the closed position, as indicated at 52. Thus, this arrangement provides ten small throat areas through which the air can flow (four in the module 25, two in the module 26, three in the module 27, and one in the module 28). Therefore, one-tenth of the total volume flows through each small throat area, with the result that $6 or 6, of the total volume flows through the module dr Me, of the total volume flows through the module cif the total volume flows through the module 27; f d f the total volume flows through the module 28.

Thus, although the effective throat areas of the module 25 remain the same, the total volume flowing therethrough is increased from one-fourth to two-fifths, over the arrangement wherein the vanes of all the modules are in the open position. Reducing the throat area of the module 26 by one-half results in a reduction of volume flow from one-fourth to one-fifth. However, although the throat area of the module 27 is reduced to three-fourths of its maximum, the volume of air flow therethrough is increased from one-fourth to three-tenths. Finally, the reduction of the effective area of the module 28 to onefourth of its maximum causes the volume of air flow therethrough to be reduced from one-fourth to onetenth.

In Figure 5, the modules 25, 27 and 28 are shown oriented to direct air in one direction, and the module 26 is oriented to direct air in the opposite direction. With all of the vanes open, it is apparent that three-fourths of the total volume will flow in the direction in which the modules 25, 27 and 28 are oriented, and the remaining one-fourth will flow in the direction in which the module 26 is oriented. However, with two vanes of the module 26 in the closed position, as indicated at 53, thereby reducing its effective throat area by one-half, only one seventh of the total volume will flow in the direction in which it is oriented. Meanwhile, although the effective throat area of the modules 25, 27 and 28 remains the same, the total volume of flow in that direction is increased from three-fourths to six-sevenths.

In Figure 6, the modules25' and28 are oriented to direct air in one direction, and the modules 26 and 27 are oriented to direct air in the opposite direction. As indicated at 54 and 55, one vane in each of the modules 26 and 27 is in a closed position. Thus, each of the modules 26 and 27 has its effective throat area reduced by one-fourth, i.e.,. to three-fourths of its maximum, while the effective throatareas. of modules 25 and 28 remain the same. Whereas, with all the vanes. in the open position, one-half of the total volume of air flow would be directed in opposite directions, the, closure of one vane of each of the modules 26 and 27 results in sixfourteenths, or three-sevenths, of the total volume flowing in the direction in which they are oriented, and the total.

volume flowing in the direction in which the modules 25 and 28 are oriented is increased to four-sevenths.

In Figure 7, the modules are oriented to direct air in three directions. In this arrangement, the module 25 is oriented to direct air in one direction, and has all of its vanes in the open position. The module 26 is oriented to direct air in the direction opposite to that flowing through the module 25, and all of its vanes are in the open position. .The remaining modules 27 and 28 are oriented to direct. air in a direction at right angles to that flowing from each of the modules 25 and 26. Additionally, two of the vanes of the'module 27 are in the closed position, and one of the vanes of the'module 28 is in the closed position, as indicated respectively at 56 and 57. Thus, the area of the module 28 is reduced to threefourths of its maximum. The net result is that fourthirteenths of the total volume of air flowsthrough each of the modules 25 and 26, whereas two-thirteenths of the total volume flows through the module 27, and threethirteenths flows through the module 28. Therefore, this arrangement results in reducing the total eifective area through which air flows in the direction of orientation of the modules 27 and 28 to five-eights of its maximum, and reduces the total volume of air flow in that direction from one-half to five-thirteenths. Meanwhile, although the efiective throat areas on modules 25 and 26 remain the same, the air flow therethrough is increased from one-fourth to four-thirteenths.

Figure 9 shows an arrangement wherein all of the vanes of module 26 are in the closed position, as indicated at 59, with all of the vanes in the remaining modules 26, 27 and 28 being in the open position. Further, the two modules 25 and 28 are oriented to direct air at right angles thereto. Whereas, with the vanes of the module 26 in the open position, one-fourth of the air volume would flow through the module 27, and one-half of the volume would be directed, through the modules 25 and 28, closing off the module 26 results in the total volume being divided among the twelve small throat areas. Thus, although the effective throat area of the module 27 remains the same, the total volume of air flow therethrough y is increased from one-fourth to one-third. Simultaneously, although the effective throat areas of the modules 25 and 28 remain the same, the air flow therethrough constitutes two-thirds of the total volume instead of onehalf.

This invention is not limited to a square configuration for a diffuser; nor is it limited to modules having only four louvers each. For example, and referring to Figure 10, four modules 60, 61, 62 and 63 are shown placed side by side in a rectangular configuration. Further, each is provided 'with five louvers. As shown, each of the modules is oriented to direct air in a respective direction. With the vanes of all the modules in the open position, it is apparent that one-fourth of the total volume will flow in the respective directions. As with the modular construction above described, the closing off of individual louver sections of the modules, so as to reduce the effective throat area of one or more of them, will operate to increase or decrease the volume of air flow in the different directions.

Figure 11 illustrates an arrangement oi'tWo modules 65 and 66 for orienting air in directions, atright angles to each other, and which is useful for a ceiling difiuser placed in the corner of a room. Such a dual modular construction also permits selective controlof both throat area and volume. For example, if two of the vane elements of one of the modules 66 were placed in the closed position, this would leave eight small sections through which the air would flow. Thus, three-eights of the total volume would flow through the module 66 and the remaining five-eights would flow through the module 65. V i

As previously stated, the foregoing explanation of controls for volume and area is oversimplified. Also to be taken into consideration is the throw, in feet, from each module. Given a particular diffuser size and neck velocity, both the volume and throw in a given direction will have to be determined.

For example, assume that one employs a 16" x 16" diffuser, having a neck area of 1.78 sq. ft., and a neck velocity of 500 feet per minute. The difiuser has four '8" x 8" modules, each having eight vanes, andeach having one-fourth the above-mentioned neck area, i.e., 0.445 sq. ft. With the modules arranged to direct air in four directions, (a) one has all vanes in the open position, (b) another has six vanes in the open position, (0) a third has half its vanes in the open position, and (d) the fourth has only two vanes in the open position.

Measured volume and throw for the above-described arrangement was as follows:

(a) 223 c.f.m. (0.445 sq. ft.) with a 7-foot throw. (b) 170 c.f.m. (0.333 sq. ft.) with a 6-foot throw. (0) c.f.m. (0.223 sq. ft.) with a 4.9-foot throw. (d) 55 c.f.m. (0.11-1 sq. ft.) with a 35-foot throw.

Thus, although the area of the (d) diffuser is only onefourth that of the (a) diffuser, its throw is one-half that of the (a) diffuser.

The significance of the invention will now be apparent. For each of the different directions of air flow, the volume and effective area for air flow in any direction are finely controlled. This is in sharp contrast to prior art registers of the type wherein individually adjustable vanes are located between deflector plates that are all parallel with the axis of the duct, and to prior art diffusers of the type employing modules that can only direct air at the same volume through effective throat areas that are all the same size. In the type of register that uses individually adjustable vanes with stationary plates that are all parallel to the duct axis, substantially all air flows only in one direction, i.e., parallel to the duct axis. Since this is so, adjusting its individual vanes provides nothng to aid in understanding what would be the effect of adjusting individual vanes in louvered modules that are oriented to direct air in different directions. And since prior art difiusers that use differently oriented louvered modules also are incapable of selectively controlling air flow in diiferent directions, it will be seen that my unique structure operates in a novel manner to obtain an end result of which prior art structures are incapable.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that this invention provides a unique modular core air difiuser in which throw and volume are selectively controllable in any direction, by virtue of effective area control which can be adjusted in discrete increments from 0-100%. Diffusers made in accordance with this invention are quiet, and provide a degree of comfort in all parts of a room which has hitherto been impossible to attain with prior art difiusers.

While the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described illustrates the advantages of my invention, it will bereadily apparent that many modifications can be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, I do not intend that my in-.

7 vention be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A diffuser for air'entering a room from an air duct comprising: a' shell to receive air from the air duct and having a rectangular air outlet opening therein; a plurality of square frame members of the same size; means releasably securing said frame members in edge abutting relationship within said air outlet opening, the number and size'of said framemembers being such as to fill said outlet opening; a plurality of parallel louver elements secured Within each frame member, each of said louver elements comprising an inner plate portion parallel to the axis of said air outlet opening and an outer air deflecting portion extending at an acute angle to said axis, said frame members being capable of different angular orientations within said air outlet-opening commensurate with the alignment of frame sides relative to the sides of said opening to cause the outer air deflecting portions of the louver elements in the frame members to extend in different directions from said axis; a plurality of baflle elements each positioned inwardly of the air deflecting portion and adjacent the inner plate portion of a louver element; means pivotally mounting each baffle element for independent pivotal movement into and out of engagement with the inner plate portions of adjacent louver elements, said mounting means including means retaining the bafiie elements in any position of adjustment between limits of maximum and minimum air flow between adjacent louver elements, whereby the quantity of flow of air directionally issuing from the louvers of said frame members can be controlled by selectively orienting the frame members to control the direction in which the air deflecting portions of their respective louver elements extend from said axis and by individual manipulation of the respective bafile elements.

2. A diffuser as defined in claim 1 wherein said shell has a flange extending at an acute angle to the axis of said outlet opening, said acute angle being the same as that between said air deflecting louver portions and said outlet opening axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,217,225 Schueler Feb. 27, 1917' 2,116,873 Williams May 10, 1938 2,236,865 Bailey Apr. 1, 1941 2,300,049 Kurth Oct. 27, 1942 2,560,802 Lambert July 17, 1951 2,564,334 Kennedy Aug. 14, 1951 2,792,985 Heiman May 21, 1957 2,865,277 Howe Dec. 23, 1958

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