WO2018173023A2

WO2018173023A2 - Modular ducts

Info

Publication number: WO2018173023A2
Application number: PCT/IB2018/054695
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodney DELGADO; Víctor Andrés MARTÍNEZ CORREA; Alexander Chang FRAGUEIRO; Nolman BARROSO HARTMANN; Carlos Ramón PLAZAOLA LORIO; Carolina ROJAS; Said VARGAS; Carlos Medina; Guadalupe GONZALEZ
Original assignee: Elektra Noreste, S.A.
Priority date: 2018-05-31
Filing date: 2018-06-26
Publication date: 2018-09-27
Also published as: WO2018173023A3

Abstract

The invention refers to a fitting (10) for the indoor unit of a Split air conditioning apparatus, for conditioning the air in an area (8), and a Split air conditioning apparatus comprising the fitting (10). The fitting comprises: a coupling (1) mounted on an indoor unit, for receiving air from said indoor unit; one or several ducts (3), starting out from the coupling (1), for conveying the air received from the indoor unit; outlet ends located at each first duct (3); outlets (4), at the outlet ends so as to allow the air to come out towards the enclosed area (8); and regulating and directing elements (12), mounted at the outlets (4), for directing the air independently at each outlet (4), as well as regulating the outlet speed of the air.

Description

MODULAR DUCTS

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention may be included in the technical field of air conditioning, in particular, of Split-type air conditioning systems. More particularly, the object of the present invention refers, according to a first object, to a fitting being coupled to an indoor unit of a Split air conditioning apparatus. According to a second object, the object of the invention is a Split air conditioning apparatus comprising the described fitting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Split air conditioning apparatuses are widely used as a means for air conditioning, due to the competitive cost thereof and a reduced necessity for adequacy thereof to the installation location.

As it is known, a Split air conditioning apparatus comprises two fundamental components, being communicated to each other by means of refrigerant pipes. One of the components is referred to as indoor unit, intended for being installed inside the area to be conditioned, the indoor unit comprising the following components: evaporator, fan, air filter and control system. On the other hand, the other component is referred to as outdoor unit, since it is intended for being installed outside the conditioned premise, usually under environmental conditions. The outdoor unit comprises, as main elements thereof, a condenser and a compressor.

The Split air conditioning apparatuses only allow conditioning (for cooling and for heating) part of the area, since by means of the indoor unit an air flow is provided that, on the one hand, is relatively reduced, and furthermore it has a reduced capacity for being redirected, either vertically or horizontally.

On the other hand, centralized air conditioning equipment is provided with duct systems conveying the conditioned air towards strategic sites which allow a bigger area to be provided with the desired temperature and humidity conditions. These ducts require, disadvantageously, making investments on modification and infrastructure installation, by methods being considerably invasive and relatively expensive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers, according to a first object, to a fitting for an indoor unit of a Split air conditioning apparatus, so as to condition air inside an enclosed area. According to a second object, the invention describes a Split air conditioning apparatus comprising the described fitting.

The fitting is intended for being coupled to the indoor unit, and it comprises a coupling for receiving the air from the indoor unit and conveying it to the enclosed area through first ducts at the outlet ends of which there are outlets for allowing the air to come out into the enclosed area. There are regulating and directing elements at the outlets, so as to independently direct the air in each outlet, as well as regulating the outlet speed of the air.

The main object is to convey the conditioned flow from the indoor unit towards selected sites of the enclosed area without bigger infrastructure modifications being required and optimizing the volume of air that needs to be conditioned, thus reducing the investment cost and improving the thermal distribution of the area, thus obtaining benefits in the system efficiency.

In short, the present invention allows capturing the cold air from the indoor unit of the Split air conditioning apparatus and distributing it to different parts of the enclosed area, providing a low cost and easy-to-adapt solution, which increases the area comfort, the air flow that the different sections of the enclosed area receive and direction thereof, and allowing regulation of the direction and intensity of the air flow at the outlets. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To implement the present description being made and in order to provide a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as part of this description, with an illustrative but not limitative purpose, which represents the following:

Figure 1 .- It shows a front view of the fitting, being coupled to the indoor unit of a Split-type conditioning equipment within an enclosed area.

Figure 2.- it shows a detailed view of one of the first ducts, so as to observe, in an enlarged size, the air outlets. PREFERED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The following is, with the help of figures 1 -2 mentioned above, a detailed description of an exemplary preferred embodiment of the present invention. The invention refers, according to a first aspect, to a fitting for an indoor unit of a Split air conditioning apparatus, so as to condition different spaces of an enclosed area (8) in a customized manner.

The fitting comprises a coupling (1 ) intended for being mounted in the indoor unit, for receiving the air from said indoor unit.

One or several first ducts (3) start out from the coupling, modularly configurable, that is, by connecting commercial standardized elements with a reduced size, such as pipe sections (9), bends (1 1 ), etc. The air is conveyed through the first ducts (3) to any desired space of the area (8) requiring to be conditioned in a customized manner.

For simplicity reasons, the elements forming the first ducts (3) may be mounted so as to define horizontal and vertical sections. Likewise, the pipe sections (9) comprised in the first ducts (3), whether horizontal, vertical or inclined, may have aerodynamic shapes, as well as other configurations preventing thermal losses, as well as, of course, being surrounded by insulating coatings (not shown).

Preferably, flow adjusters (2) may be arranged so as to adjust the air flow rate being distributed to each first duct (3). The first ducts (3) have an outlet end, further to the coupling, provided with an outlet (4) so as to allow the air to come out. At the outlet (4) there are regulating and directing elements (12) being mounted, which allow directing the air independently at each outlet (4), as well as regulating the outlet speed of the air, from a zero value to a maximum value. Preferably, the outlets (4) are at a height with respect to the floor (5) of the enclosed area (8), being equivalent to the height of a person, thus avoiding to condition all the air volume above people height. In particular, height may preferably be no higher than 2 metres from the floor (5).

Likewise, the fitting comprises a suction line (13) wherein a second duct (6) is mounted for the air to return from the enclosed area (8) towards the coupling (1 ). The second duct (6) comprises an air inlet (7) arranged at a lower level than the level at which any of the outlets (4) from the first duct or ducts (3) discharges. Thus, the volume of conditioned air is confined to the area being between the level of the outlets (4) of the first ducts (3) and the floor (5), for avoiding that, by means of suction, movement is induced to the conditioned air at higher levels, so the invention allows limiting the volume of air requiring to be conditioned.

According to a second aspect, the invention refers to a Split air conditioning apparatus comprising an outdoor unit, intended for being installed outside the conditioned area, and comprising a condenser and a compressor. The apparatus also comprises an indoor unit, intended for being installed inside the area to be conditioned, and comprising an evaporator, fan, air filter and a control system. The two indoor and outdoor units are communicated by means of refrigerant pipes. The operation of the apparatus is commanded through a remote control and/or a control panel being part of the indoor unit.

The apparatus is characterized in that it comprises the fitting described above, coupled to the indoor unit, for receiving the air from the indoor unit.

Figure 1 shows a front view of the whole fitting mounted on the evaporating unit of a Split air conditioning apparatus within the enclosed area (8). As figure 1 shows, the set of first ducts (3) distributes the flow captured by the coupling (1 ) towards the outlets (4), by using fitting such as pipe sections (9) and bends (1 1 ), thus distributing the conditioned air to selected spaces of the enclosed area (8).

On the other hand, figure 2 represents a detailed perspective of one of the first ducts (3), showing the outlets (4) and the regulating and directing elements (12).

Claims

C L A I M S

1 .- Fitting (10) for a Split air conditioning apparatus, for conditioning air inside an enclosed area (8), the fitting (10) being characterized in that it comprises:

- a coupling (1 ) intended for being mounted in the indoor unit, for receiving the air from said indoor unit;

- one or several first ducts (3), starting out from the coupling (1 ), for conveying the air received from the indoor unit;

- outlet ends located at each first duct (3);

- outlets (4), at the outlet ends so as to allow the air to come out into the enclosed area (8); and

- regulating and directing elements (12), mounted at the outlets (4), for directing the air independently at each outlet (4), as well as regulating the outlet speed of the air.

2.- Fitting (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it additionally comprises flow adjusters (2), for adjusting the flow rate of the air distributed to each first duct (3).

3. - Fitting (10) according to any of claims 1 -2, characterized in that the outlets (4) are at a height, with respect to the floor (5) of the enclosed area (8), not higher than 2 metres.

4. - Fitting (10) according to any of claims 1 -3, characterized in that it additionally comprises a suction line (13), wherein a second duct (6) is mounted on a second duct (6) for the air to return from the enclosed area (8) towards the coupling (1 ), where the second duct (6) comprises an air inlet (7) arranged at a lower level than the level at which any of the outlets (4) from the first duct or ducts (3) discharges.

5. - Split air conditioning apparatus, for conditioning air in an enclosed area (8), the apparatus comprising:

- an outdoor unit, intended for being installed outside the enclosed area (8);

- an indoor unit, intended for being installed inside the enclosed area (8); and

- a refrigerant pipe or pipes, connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit;

the apparatus being characterized in that it additionally comprises the fitting (10) described in any of claims 1 -to 4, the fitting (10) being mounted on the indoor unit for receiving air from the indoor unit.