US3183821A - Selective air discharge pattern slot diffusers - Google Patents

Description

y 1965 E. F. AVERILL ETAL 3,183,821

SELECTIVE AIR DISCHARGE PATTERN SLOT DIFFUSERS .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1963 F I G. 2

INVENTORS: EUGENE F. AVERILL HAROLD E. STRAUB y 18, 1965 E. F. AVERILL ETAL 3,183,821

SELECTIVE AIR DISCHARGE PATTERN SLOT DIFFUSEBS Filed April 9, 1963 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ll J15 6O 4 H .Av 58-I l 4 p 1.

INVENTORS: EUGENE F. AVERILL HAROLD E. STRAUB United States Patent 3,183,821 SELECTIVE AIR DISCHARGE PATTERN SLOT DIFFUSERS Eugene F. Averill, Waterloo, and Harold E. Straub, Cedar Falls, Iowa, assignors to Titus Manufacturing Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Apr. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 271,729 3 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) This invention, in general, relates to air distribution devices. More particularly, the invention pertains to air diffusers in which the air is discharged through one or more elongated slots.

Diffusers are the terminal units of air distribution systems, i.e., the devices through which air distributed by an air distribution system of a building or the like is discharged into a room. These diffusers are connected with the building ductwork. Slot diffusers, like most diffusers, are usually mounted flush in the ceiling of a room although they may also be mounted in a wall or walls of a room.

This invention relates to slot diffusers and to improvements in structures for selectively adjusting the air discharge pattern of slot diffusers. The diffusers of the invention are capableof providing selectively a plurality of air discharge patterns, i.e., a two-way horizontal pattern, a one-way horizontal pattern, or a vertical pattern.

The best air discharge pattern for a diffuser in a ceiling depends upon several factors. When the air supplied to the diffuser is warm air, the best air discharge pattern usually is, a vertical pattern, i.e., one in which the diffuser air discharge stream is directly outwardly at right angles to the face of the diffuser and the ceiling in which it is mounted. Warm air, being lighter or less dense than colder air, is best directed into the room at right angles to the ceiling to'mix it with the cooler air in the lower areas of the room to warm the latter.

On the other hand, when the air supplied through the diffuser is cool air, the best air discharge pattern usually is a horizontal pattern,.i.e., one in which the air'stream or streams are directed laterally outwardly from the diffuser substantially parallel with the face of the diffuser and the ceiling. The greater density of cool air causes it to fall or descend into a body of warmer air. This makes the horizontal pattern the most desirable because the cool air can be spread across the ceiling or a portion thereof. It falls as its velocity drops and ultimately mixes with and cools the warmer air in the lower areas of the room. If a vertical pattern were used with a cool air discharge stream, drafts causing discomfort to occupants of the room may result. Also, the horizontal pattern provides a more even distribution of the cooling air throughout the room and thereby keeps the room temperature more uniform throughout.

Selective, variable discharge pattern slot diffusers are provided, in accordance with the invention, by elongated, spaced, side walls defining therebetween one or more air flow channels. These channel(s) have at their downstream side opposing, inwardly directed lips defining an elongated slot and are employed to deflect air directed thereagainst laterally as it flows through the elongated, air discharge slot or slots. By providing a movable damper member or air pattern controller in each channel to direct air flow through one-half, the other half, or both halves of the channels, a variety of air discharge patterns can be selected.

of the elongated lips at the downstream end of the channels whereby the latter lip deflects the air stream into a lateral or outward air discharge stream, an-air discharge pattern often referred to as a horizontal pattern. When the air pattern controller is in a neutral or nonblocking position, the air flows through both halves or sides of the air channels with the result that the discharge air pattern is a vertical pattern.

The principles and concepts of the generic invention are further described and illustrated in the preferred embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a double slot diffuser of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on section 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a broken, perspective view of the air pattern controller used in the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the upper fragment of a diffuser of the invention with a duct mounted thereon;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation similar to FIG. 4 with another type of duct mounted thereon; 7

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view like that of FIG. 2, but showing the air pattern controllers in position to provide a two-Way, horizontal or lateral air discharge pattern;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional View, similar to the sectional view of FIG. 2, of anotherembodimen-t of a double slot diffuser of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a tranverse cross-section of a single slot diffuser of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a double slot diffuser 1 having in the face thereof a pair of substantially parallel, elongated air discharge slots 2, 3. The diffuser 1 comprises three elongated spaced sections 4, 5 and 6, which are extruded members having the transverse cross-section shown in FIG. 2. Sections 4 and 5 may be identical extrusions, one being in assembly of the diffuser the mirror image of the other. The section 4, 5 comprise a longitudinal wall 7 comprising a straight wall segment 8 at the upstream side of the diffuser, a circularly curved wall segment 9 depending therefrom, and an outwardly-directed flange 10' at the downstream edge of the curved wall segment 9. The flanges extend laterally outwardly along each edge of the diffuser, and the outermost edges lie against the marginal portions of the ceiling or wall around the opening in which the diffuser is mounted.

The wall 7 forms with lateral wall 11 and parallel wall 12 an elongated channel 13 opening upwardly. Air conductors or adapters (not shown), which connect the air supply duct (not shown) and diffuser, may be mounted in the channels 13. The lower surface of wall 11 and the upper surface of flange 10 have longitudinally-extending lips 14, 15, 16 and 17. The lip pairs 14, 15 and 16, 17 form longitudinal grooves in which may be seated the opposite edges of diffuser mounting plates 18, 19, to

which may be attached clips or brackets (not shown),

which, in turn, are attached to hangers in the case of suspended ceilings or structural members of the ceiling or wall itself. Also, in case the diffuser layout calls for two or more abutted, aligned diffuser sections like that of PEG. 1, the plates 18, 19 may extend between abutted diffuser sections to provide proper alignment between abutted sections.

The center section 6 of the diffuser is an extruded, hollow section made of a top wall 20, a bottom wall 21, and side walls 22, 23. The side walls 22, 23 have a circular, concavely-curved wall segment 24, 25, respective ly. Curved wall segment 24 has'substantially the same radius and center of curvature as concave wall segment 9 of the section 4, and curved wall segment 25 has a k 3 similar relationship to concave Wall segment 9 ot section 'thereby defining a pair of substantially cylindrical, elongated air'passage channels 26, 27.

Each substantially cylindrical passage 26, 27 has an air pattern controller or damper 2t 29, each of which comprises a cylindrical rod 36 and an elongated plate 31 extending radially therefrom. The rod 3t! may be located substantially at the radial center of the cylindrical passages 2-6, 27, whereby the air pattern controllers 28, 29 may have pivot axes substantiallycommon with the longitudinal axes of cylindrical passages 2s, 27. The radial outer edges of plates 31 extend slightly beyond the inner faces of walls 9, 24 and 25, and the air controllers 28, 29

are pivotable between the upstream portions of wall pairs 9, 24, and 9, 25. These walls may have oltsets 33 forming limit shoulders 34 forming stops, against which the edges 32 of the controller abut.

The ends 35 of rods 36} may be pivotally supported in end Walls 36, 37 of the difiuser, which, in turn, are attached to the ends of sections 4, 5 and 6 to provide a unitary structure. When theair controller 28 and/ or 2? is of a length whereby itneeds intermediate support against bowing, any suitable support may be provided along the length of the air controller 23 and/or 29, as 1 needed.

When air is supplied through the upstream side ot the a diffuser, it enters channels 26, 27 between lips 42,43, 44 and 45, and it may be deflected into several patterns-4e pending on the position of the air pattern controllers 28, 29. When the controller is rotated'to one side or the other of the passage, e.g;, as shown in the channel 27 of 2, the air stream is defiected'against the curved wall of the opposite side of the channel. It flows in a curved" path through the channel and is'discharged from the slot in a laterally outward stream. The lips 46, 47, 48 and 49 formed by the downstream edges of curved walls act as air flow directing or deflecting surfaces to direct or deflect the airstream laterally outwardly as it exits from the slotto provide a horizontal discharge pattern. 1

When'the 'air pattern controller does not block oft" either side of the cylindrical air flow channel, e.g., the

'position of controller 28 inthe channel of FIG. 2, the

air fiows through the whole cross-section of the channel.

-The opposing lips 46, 47 deflect the air stream toward the center and thereby counteract each other. The result is a vertical discharge stream substantially at. right angles to the face of the diffuser. For optimum results,

inner edges of lips 42, 43, 44, 45, is of a widthabout the same as or less than the width of the respective slots 2, 3.

FIG. 2 shows for purposes of illustration a combination vertical pattern, horizontal pattern. An opposite, two-way,.horizontal pattern may be achieved by setting the vane controllers inthe position shown in FIG. 6, i.e.,

V with the controllers 28, 29 resting on shoulders 34 of the walls 9 of sections 4 and 5'. e

The embodiment of FIG. 7 is like that of FIGS. 16,

except that the side walls'Si), 51, 52, 53 of channels 26, 27 1 is made from members like diffuser sections 4 and 5 of FIGS. 1-6. The single slot difiuser functions similarly to the difiuser portion provided by one of the channels '26 or 27, and again like numerals designate like parts. FIG. 8 shows a mounting bracket or clip 58 attached to the mounting plates 18, 19, the latter, in turn, adapted tobe attached to ceiling members 59, 60 or hanger support rods, wires, etc, (not shown).

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two embodiments for connection of the slot difiusers with air supply ducts. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the air supply duct is a substantially cylindrical duct 61 made of molded Fiberglas or other sound-deadening or sound-insulating material. The

molded Fiberglas duct 61 has a longitudinal slot along one side thereof formed between the pointed tips 62, 63 of the cylindrical wall ofthe duct 61. The longitudinal opening in the duct 61 is in alignment and communication with the air passage through the slot diffuser.

The duct 61 is mounted on the upper side of the slot diffuser by means of duct fastener elements comprising elongated plate pairs 64, 67. The plate 64 fits against the inner side of the duct 61 and comprises an elongated metal plate 65 lying substantially fiat against the inner side of duct er and an elonagtedplate 66 seated in the slot 13 and lying against the vertical Wall 8.

The element 67' comprises an elongated plate 68 lying against the outer, underside of the duct 61, an elongated plate 69 fittingagainst the plate 66 and a horizontal lip or flange 70, the outermost edge of which seats against the inner side of the wall 12. The two fastener elements 64, 67 hold the tapered tip 62, 63 of the duct 61 therebetween and also function as the support legs or feet which Y seat in the channels 13. The difiuser-duct combination so provided is one in which the elongated, substantially continuous air passage through the difi'user is supplied with air from the duct 61 substantially along its length by virtue of the longitudinal slot provided in the duct 61.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the air is supplied throught a conventional type metal duct, i.e., one of rectangular cross-section. The inner wall of the duct 71 may be lined with sound-insulating or sound-deadening material, if desired. The lower wall 72 of the duct 71 has a longitudinal opening extending the length thereof, said opening being defined by downwardly-depending ' walls 73, 74. The lower ends of the walls 73, 74 are I provided with a reverse bend segment 75, 76, respectively, the latter providingwith the lower portions of the walls 73, 74 duct support elements which seat in the channels 13 of the difiuser. The duct-diffuser combination of FIG, 5 also provides a combination wherein air from the duct 71 is fed through the slot dilfusersubstantially the upstream opening of channels 26, 27, defined by the throughout the length thereof through the opening provided by walls 73, 74. a

It is through that the invention'and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obviousv that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theseveral parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows: 1. A slot dififu'ser comprising spaved, oppositely disposed elongated side walls defining therebetween an air flow channel, the'downstream edge of each of said walls having an inwardly directed lip, said lips defining there- 'between an elongated air discharge slot, an elongated vane member extending longitudinally in said channel upstream from said lips, means rotatably supporting said vane in said channel with its pivot axis extending longitudinally of said channel and substantially mid-Way between said elongated walls, said vane member extending toward the upstream side of said channel and having a 1 width sutricient to be pivotable into contact with an upstream portion of either of the side walls of said channel in an upward and outward orientation whereby said vane member is adapted to be swung between extreme positions against the respective sidewalls for blocking olt air flow through said channel along one of said side walls and for deflecting air against the other of said side walls 'as well as positionsintermediate said extreme positions.

2. A slot diffuser as claimed in claim lwherein said 3,183,821 5 6 side walls of said channel are concavely curved, said pivot References Cited by the Examiner axis is substantially at the radius centers of said concavely UNITED STATES PATENTS curved side walls, and said lips are the downstream portions of said concavely curved side walls. 2833823 242; 5 Y ggjg avi son 3. A slot difiuser as claimed in claim 1 Wherem 1d 5 3,126,811 3/64 Kennedy side walls of said channel are planar, substantially parallel Walls. ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SLOT DIFFUSER COMPRISING SPACED, OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ELONGATED SIDE WALLS DEFINING THEREBETWEEN AN AIR FLOW CHANNEL, THE DOWNSTREAM EDGE OF EACH OF SAID WALLS HAVING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED LIP, SAID LIPS DEFINING THEREBETWEEN AN ELONGATED AIR DISCHARGE SLOT, AN ELONGATED VANE MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID CHANNEL UPSTREAM FROM SAID LIPS, MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID VANE IN SAID CHANNEL WITH ITS PIVOT AXIS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CHANNEL AND SUBSTANTIALLY MID-WAY BETWEEN SAID ELONGATED WALLS, SAID VANE MEMBER EXTENDING TOWARD THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF SAID CHANNEL AND HAVING A WIDTH SUFFICIENT TO BE PIVOTABLE INTO CONTACT WITH AN UPSTREAM PORTION OF EITHER OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID CHANNEL IN AN UPWARD AND OUTWARD ORIENTATION WHEREBY SAID VANE

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