Patent Application
20170016641
The present invention relates to devices/systems providing airflow regulation, e.g. for regulation of cooling/heating/ventilation airflow in residential or commercial premises.
Though the related art contains numerous designs of devices for regulation of cooling/heating/ventilation in residential or commercial premises, many of them possess certain disadvantages, such as complexity, necessity for connecting to a regular electrical grid, etc.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,093 teaches: “An apparatus to regulate the temperature of the interior of a motor vehicle, including a room air temperature sensor and a heating air temperature sensor, with the room air temperature sensor providing a substantially higher controlled variable change per unit of temperature change and wherein the sensor signals are summed by a controller. The heating air temperature sensor consists of two series-connected temperature sensors of which one is thermally insulated. The sensor control signal is taken from the junction between these two temperature sensors so as to provide dynamic coupling of the heating air temperature sensor to the room air temperature sensor. In this manner, the room air temperature is sensed precisely and relatively more rapidly so that an excessively large fluctuation of the actual temperature is avoided if the heating output of the heat exchanger varies between a high and a low value.” The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,093 is complicated to manufacture and to use, and also expensive.
Another U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,527 teaches “The present invention relates to an integrated air turbine driving system for providing aircraft environmental control. The system has at least one air driven turbine for providing power to an aircraft mounted accessory drive and for providing heated air to an aircraft anti-ice system. The system further has a subsystem for supplying cooled pressurized air to a flight deck and/or cabin and to aircraft avionics. Still further, the subsystem provides cooling air to other aircraft components such as a generator and/or an aircraft mounted accessory drive.” The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,527 is even more complicated and expensive. It also requires a power supply source from an onboard aircraft electric system.
There is also known a Cooling apparatus with automatic louvre operating mechanism, taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,608: “A cooling apparatus comprising an air-cooled heat exchanger, a plurality of louvres to control a cooling air flow passing the heat exchanger, a mechanism for operating the louvres and means for actuating the operating mechanism according to temperature of the heat exchanger. The actuating means comprises a bar having a first end and a second end and being of a material having a considerably lower thermal expansion coefficient than that of the heat exchanger, said bar being attached by its first end substantially at a first end of the heat exchanger, and means for controlling the position of the operating mechanism in dependence on a difference in displacements of the second end.” The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,608 is also complicated and expensive, and requires connecting to an electric grid.
In certain cases of renovation and modernizing of existing premises, an outlet for supply of heat air, or cool air, or ventilation of the premises is mounted in a place that has no convenient access to an electrical power grid. However, almost every device for regulation of airflow needs an electric power supply. Establishing a connection to a regular power grid would usually require additional construction work and necessary equipment, and sometimes would require additional electric safety measures. This invention is intended to solve these or similar problems and proposes solutions that provide a power source for regulation of airflow, and, on the other hand, doesn't require establishing a connection to a regular electric grid. The invention provides for greater electric safety and is not expensive.
In a preferred embodiment, an inventive autonomous airflow regulation system is used for regulation of airflow supplied into premises from a heating/cooling/ventilation system. The regulation system comprises at least one system unit including: —an airflow guiding mechanism (a variable grille) mounted on an outlet of the heating/cooling/ventilation system supplying the airflow, wherein the airflow guiding mechanism includes a plurality of louvers capable of simultaneously pivoting; —an actuator receiving a regulation command; an accumulator battery capable of powering the actuator; —an electrical generator capable of charging the battery; —an airflow turbine capable of driving the electrical generator, wherein the turbine and the generator have a common shaft, and the turbine is driven by the airflow. The outlet of the heating/cooling/ventilation system can be arranged on a ceiling, floor, or a wall of the premises.
The turbine with the generator can be mounted below or above (or on either side of a wall) of the airflow guiding mechanism, so that the turbine can be rotated by the airflow. The actuator receives regulation commands formed by a remote control device and transmitted through a wireless communication channel to set up a desirable position of the louvers and thus regulating the airflow. The remote control device can further include a temperature sensor and a regulation knob facilitating a user to operate the remote control device.
For regulating the airflow in large premises, the inventive airflow regulation system can comprise a number of the aforementioned system units, while the remote control devices can be associated with a central control unit providing climate control of the premises.
While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will be described in detail herein, specific embodiments of the present invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated on
As shown in
The system unit includes: an electrical generator 3 electrically connected to the battery 7 (the electric connection is not illustrated), and capable of charging the battery 7 during rotation of the generator 3; an airflow turbine 4, capable of driving the electrical generator 3, wherein the turbine 4 and the generator 3 have a common shaft, and the turbine 4 is driven by the airflow coming from the outlet 9.
Since the battery 7 can be discharged during a certain period of time while not operating, the battery 7 can have a port (not illustrated) for initial charging from an external voltage source (not illustrated) that allows for the actuator 1 to rotate the louvers to an initial angle, thereby opening the airflow guiding mechanism 2 to start rotating the turbine 4, driving the generator 3, and further charging the battery 7.
The system unit also includes: a remote control device 5, possibly equipped (for cooling or heating the premises) with a temperature sensor (not illustrated) regulated by a regulating knob 6 capable of being turned by a user, who presets a desired temperature. The remote control device 5 transmits regulation commands (e/m signals) to the actuator 1. The transmission can be made wireless and implemented using a wireless channel 8 (e.g. via Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, etc.).
Particularly, the airflow guiding mechanism 2 can be made as a rocker mechanism as shown in
When the louvers of the airflow guiding mechanism 2 are so positioned that the outlet 9 is opened, the airflow comes out from the outlet 9 and rotates the turbine 4 driving the generator 3. The generator 3 charges the battery 7 powering the actuator 1, thereby allowing the actuator 1 to operate (i.e. rotate the louvers) and regulate the airflow.
The outlet 9 of the heating/cooling/ventilation system can be arranged in a ceiling, floor, or a wall of the premises.
The inventive regulation system can be composed of a number of the above described system units regulated by a common central control unit (not illustrated) to provide climate control in the premises.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures methods and systems for carrying out several purposes of the present invention. It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As opposed to the claims, the foregoing abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the instant application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
