Patent Application
20150354836
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(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the use of portable air conditioning units typically found in hotel rooms, high-rise apartment buildings, and in window openings in some homes. In particular, a “packaged thermal air conditioner” (often abbreviated PTAC) is a mechanical unit that is a self-contained heating and air conditioning system. Many PTAC's are designed to be installed through a wall, and have vents and heat sinks both inside and outside.
A common problem with PTAC's is that the air flow from the grill and venting of the unit may be partially blocked by nearby heavy curtains which are installed to cover or partially cover a window near the PTAC. The disclosed device is a flexible rectangular panel having a permanent bend running parallel to both its longitudinal sides. The panel is specifically designed for securing to the top surface of a PTAC and thereby controlling the direction of conditioned air emanating from the PTAC. By directing the airflow in a controlled manner, the device enhances the comfort of the occupants of the room in which the PTAC is installed, and further, provides a substantial energy conservation by more efficient use of the conditioned air.
(2) Description of the Related Art, Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.
The following documents present material and concepts that are similar to the inventive concept disclosed by Applicant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,654 (Jul. 31, 1990) The invention disclosed is a split scroll which diffuses and directs air upwards from the circumference of a forwardly-curved centrifugal fan to a discharge plane to one side of the fan. The scroll has a first monotonically increasing curved wall that extends from a cutoff point near the circumference of the rotor, in the direction of rotation, to the discharge plane. A second monotonically increasing curved wall extends in the opposite direction from the cutoff point up to the discharge plane. The first and second curved walls are mirror images of one another taken at the plane corresponding to the air flow tangent that passes through the cutoff point. A curved cover above the fan at the exit plane blocks line of sight noise from radiating directly from the fan rotor into the work space or living space.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,043 (Mar. 16, 1993). Disclosed is an air conditioner having rotatable first and second deflectors provided in an outlet for discharging conditioned air. The first deflector is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis so as to variably deflect the conditioned air in vertical directions. The second deflector is rotatable so as to block a breadthwise portion of the outlet while forming an air passage in the remainder breadthwise portion of the outlet. The first and second deflectors are rotatable independently of each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,341 (Jul. 15, 1997) A gas burner for use in gas fireplaces provides a yellow flickering flame such as that seen in a real wood fire while maintaining a low level of carbon monoxide production. The gas burner is simple in design and compact in size and may be used in either direct vent or gravity vent gas fireplaces. An air baffle plate may be affixed to the rear of the gas burner to maintain the critical balance between primary and secondary combustion air when using liquid propane gas.
U.S. Published Patent Application #2012/0118997 A1 (May 17, 2012). Disclosed is a fan diversion structure which is adapted to be disposed on a fan, and the fan diversion structure comprises at least one deflector and at least one connecting part. The deflector, which is adapted to be disposed across front of an air outlet of the fan, is disposed on one side next to a center of the fan and without overlapping the center of the fan, wherein the deflector extends outwardly so as to deflect an airflow to the side direction of the fan. The connecting part is adapted for connecting the deflector to the fan. Thereby the airflow from the fan not only converges in the axial direction, but also moderately extends to the side of the fan so as to increase the blowing angle and enhance convection efficiency around the fan.
U.S. Published Patent Application #2008/0242215 (Oct. 2, 2008); An air supply shutter for ventilating closed buildings includes a marginal frame with interconnected upper, lower and lateral frame members to define a centrally disposed air vent opening having inlet and outlet sides. A shutter flap is pivotally mounted on the frame for rotation about a generally horizontal axis between closed and open positions. A coupler is connected with the shutter flap and configured for engagement with an activator for shifting the shutter flap between the closed and open positions. The upper frame member includes an air guiding wall which is disposed on the outlet side of the air vent opening, faces the air vent opening, and extends upwardly at a predetermined angle to deflect the air flowing through the air vent opening.
U.S. Published Patent Application #2002/0100289 (Aug. 1, 2002) Disclosed is a blower cover and an air conditioner using such blower. A rollable sheet is locked between two side plates by rollable connectors. A belt plate is secured between the side plates to lock the rollable sheet between the side plates. The belt plate also directs air from the blower. The blower cover can easily be assembled at a work site without welding or expert metal working. The blower cover is used in an air conditioner in which air is forced upwards from the blower and the air is directed into a heat exchange unit by one or more air deflectors. Another air deflector directs air coming out of the heat exchanger in an upwardly direction out of the air conditioner and this air deflector also directs any condensate downwards toward a drain system generally located below the heat air conditioner.
Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P., 7401 Security Way, Houston, Tex., builds a deflector that may be used on commercial heating and air conditioning units. The Goodman deflector is of a different configuration and functions in a substantially different manner than the inventive concept disclosed in this document. These type deflectors are frequently found in Amana air conditioning units.
The present inventive concept is an angled deflector panel which is ergonomically designed with a profile such as to allow the directing of airflow emanating from the fins or grille of a packaged thermal air conditioner (PTAC). Attachment of the deflector to the top surface of the PTAC provides a more efficient means to direct the flow cool (or warm) air produced by the PTAC. There is a variety of standard dimensions to which PTAC's are manufactured. The most common dimensions found in the consumer market include 42×16 inches, 36×15 inches, and 26×14 inches. A primary objective of the inventive concept disclosed is to conserve energy by efficiently directing the flow of air emanating from the PTAC.
The objects, features, and advantages of the concept presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling nine figures, show the basic components and functions of embodiments and/or methods of use. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures.
The discussion of the present inventive concept will be initiated beginning with
In
On-site operational experience with various fittings and deflector bend angles has shown that the 140-degree panel bend 9 provides the optimum deflection angle to redistribute the airflow being expelled through the grille or fins 24 of a PTAC 25. However, depending on the room sized to be air conditioned and the brand of PTAC utilized, the panel angle 8 may vary in the range of 120 degrees to 150 degrees. As the cool or warm conditioned air is re-directed by the deflector 1, significant energy savings are realized by providing a quicker and more efficient cool-down (or warm-up) of the living space utilized by the occupants of the room containing the PTAC 25. Preliminary estimates from users of the deflector 1 in hotel chains indicates that the energy savings amount to a six percent (6.0%) reduction in energy to condition the air in designated rooms, as compared to the costs incurred before the installation of deflectors 1 in the rooms.
The preferred embodiment of the deflector is constructed from polycarbonate, and in particular, the Lexan® brand of polycarbonate, which is most amenable to sizing the deflector 1 and the shaping of the bend 9 of the device. In viewing
Again, referring to
During fabrication of the deflector 1, the rear protective cover 11, having been adhesively attached, is then measured and marked with the locations of drill sites for holes 12, 13, 14, 15 along the outer surface 6 and protective rear cover 11 of the attaching sector 5. The markings correspond to the configuration and profile of the specific PTAC 25 to which the deflector 1 is to be attached. Holes are then pre-drilled through the markings on the rear protective cover 11 and through the attaching sector 5.
Turning to
The general profile of the PTAC 25 is depicted by dashed lines. In
Generally, it is most practical for an installer performing this process to clamp the deflector 1 onto the front 16 of the PTAC 25 in a pre-determined orientation to the surface of the front 16.
Thus there is fabricated a first, second, third, and fourth receptive aperture 12(a), 13(a), 14(a), and 15(a) on the upper front 16 of the PTAC 25. Once the drilling operation is completed, the clamps are released and both protective covers 10, 11, on the deflector 1 are removed from the deflector 1. Next, four push-tab fasteners 17 (not shown) are required to be inserted through the first hole 12, the second hole 13, the third hole 14, and the fourth hole 15, respectively on the outer surface 6 of the attaching sector 5. The deflector 1 is then positioned at the previously determined position on the front 16 and each push-tab fastener 17 is pushed through the corresponding newly-drilled apertures 12(a), 13(a), 14(a), 15(a) in the front 16 by the exercise of moderate finger pressure of the installer. This results in a secure, although not permanent, fit of the deflector 1 onto the front 16 of the PTAC 25. Should an occupant accidentally bump against the deflector 1 and partially dislodge it, it is an easy matter to re-insert the affected push-tab fastener(s) 17 into the specific aperture(s) 12(a), 13(a), 14(a), 15(a).
While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, and is by no means limited by the scope of the claims presented herein.
