The subject disclosure generally pertains to air ducts and more specifically to fabric air ducts.
To distribute supply air throughout a building, fabric air ducts are often preferred over sheet metal ones for various reasons. Fabric ducts can evenly distribute the air, can be less prone to surface condensation, have a nice appearance, are lightweight, and are usually removable for periodic cleaning. Fabric ducts, nonetheless, do have some drawbacks.
Fabric ducts, for instance, can sometimes be difficult to remove and attach to a main supply air duct. In some cases, the point of attachment is at a location with limited accessibility, particularly if the main supply air duct is directly above the fabric duct.
Some fabric ducts have rigid pieces that are unsuitable for cleaning by conventional fabric washing machines (e.g., item 60 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,320 and item 24 of published U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0155805).
In some applications, it is desirable to have an air duct made of a fabric that is more air permeable in some areas than others. For example, there might be a need for more airflow below the duct than above it. This could be accomplished by joining fabrics of different permeability; however, sewing together different materials does not always work well.
Certain examples are shown in the above-identified figures and described in detail below. In describing these examples, like or identical reference numbers are used to identify common or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic for clarity and/or conciseness. Additionally, several examples have been described throughout this specification. Any features from any example may be included with, a replacement for, or otherwise combined with other features from other examples.
Sheets 20 and 22 are each made of a pliable material (e.g., an air permeable or impermeable fabric) that can be removed from its supporting structure for cleaning (e.g., in a washing machine). Sheets 20 and 22 can be made of the same or different materials to provide air duct assembly 10 with certain airflow characteristics or other desirable properties such as appearance, strength, and different or identical air permeability.
Turning now to the example of
In this example, a first separable joint 34 can be used for connecting inlet duct 14 in fluid communication with an inlet opening 36 defined by upper sheet 20. An arrow 38 represents the step of removably coupling upper sheet 20 to inlet duct 14. In some examples, joint 34 includes a pliable tube 40 that is fastened via a clamp 42 or otherwise attached to inlet duct 14, and a pliable fastener 44 removably connects tube 40 to the perimeter of opening 36. Examples of pliable fastener 44 include, but are not limited to, a zipper or a hook-and-loop fastener such a VELCRO fastener, wherein VELCRO is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries of Manchester, N.H.
After inlet duct 14 is coupled to upper sheet 20, lower sheet 22 can be completely inserted into channel 28, whereby an arrow 46 represents the step of finish coupling lower sheet 22 to upper sheet 20.
Once sheets 20 and 22 are installed, a first pliable end panel 48 (
Referring to
Although
The example of
Fabric member 80 may include a single layer of pliable material (e.g., an air permeable or impermeable fabric) or a plurality of layers of pliable material. The fabric member 80 may include any number (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.) of areas (e.g., sections) that may be made of the same or different materials that have similar or different characteristics, such as, for example, strength, and/or air permeability. Additionally, the different areas may be the same or different sizes. In some examples, the fabric member 80 may include areas of varying porosity such as, for example, an area that is a first porosity and an area that is a second porosity.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that fabric air ducts and method of making and/or using the same have been disclosed. In some examples, an air duct assembly includes upper and lower pliable sheets that are joined longitudinally to make it easier to attach the upper sheet to a vertical main supply air duct made of relatively rigid sheet metal.
In some examples, upper and lower pliable sheets are suspended from separate track channels so that the sheets can be installed individually.
In some examples, an air duct assembly includes separate upper and lower sheets that are sufficiently pliable to machine-wash them individually.
In some examples, a single track member includes two channels to support two individual pliable sheets.
In some examples, an air duct assembly includes upper and lower sheets plus two pliable end panels that are joined to the sheets by way of at least one pliable fastener.
In some examples, an air duct assembly includes upper and lower pliable sheets, wherein one sheet is more air permeable than the other.
In some examples, an air duct assembly comprising two pliable sheets includes a removable airflow modifier that is coupled to a main supply air duct that delivers air to a passageway between the two sheets. Examples of such an airflow modifier includes, but is not limited to, a filter, airflow-turning vane or noise attenuator.
In some examples, an air duct assembly includes upper and lower sheets can be installed by installing the lower sheet after the upper sheet is attached to a main supply air duct.
Furthermore, although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.