Multiple Air dam device

Abstract

An impinging air duct comprising a columnating plate and a plurality of orifices disposed thereon. A plurality of air dams direct air entering the impinging air duct through the orifices, to ensure that the flow of air out of the duct is substantially even along the length of the duct.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an impinging air duct of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top cross-sectional view of an impinging air duct of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the impinging air duct of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an additional top cross-sectional view of the impinging air duct of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an additional side cross-sectional view of the impinging air duct of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The air dams of the present disclosure are inserted into air dispensing ducts to help evenly distribute the flow of air out of the duct. Several air dams can be utilized in each dispensing duct, depending on the size of the duct. The air dam is a generally linear device that is connected to the columniating plate at an angle to that plate. This helps the air entering the duct make the transition from a generally horizontal flow to a generally vertical flow out of the dispensing orifices. Air entering the duct is captured by the first air dam, and directed out of the duct through the columnating orifices. When the space behind the air dam is filled up, the remaining air entering the duct passes over the first air dam, and passes onto the next air dam or air cavity within the duct. Thus, the air dams of the present disclosure help to ensure an even flow of air along the length of the dispensing duct, which substantially saves on the heating and energy costs associated with currently available models that have uneven air flow profiles.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, an air dispensing duct 10 including a plurality of air dams 50 according to the present disclosure is shown. Air dispensing duct 10 has housing 20, columniating plate 30, and cover plate 40. Columniating plate 30 has a plurality of columniating orifices 35, and cover plate 40 has a plurality of cover orifices 45. Air enters the dispensing duct 10 through opening 25, where it is partially intercepted by air dams 50 and directed out of the duct through columniating orifices 35 and cover orifices 45.

In the shown embodiment, air dams 50 are plates of aluminized steel that are connected to the columniating plate 30 by spot welding. The present disclosure, however, contemplates the use of other materials for the air dams 50, such as stainless steel or any other material capable of withstanding the environment inside the oven. The air dams may also be connected to the columniating plate 30 with other methods, such as with fasteners. The air dams 50 and the columniating plate 30 can also be stamped from the same sheet of metal so that they are formed as one piece. Finally, although in the shown embodiment there are two air dams 50 per dispensing duct 10, the present disclosure contemplates the use of one or more air dams 50 within the dispensing duct 10.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a first air dam 52 and a second air dam 54 within the dispensing duct 10 are shown. As is shown in FIG. 4, air dams 52 and 54 are mounted at distances I and L from opening 25, respectively, and at angles A and B to the sides of the columniating plate 30. As is shown in FIG. 5, air dams 52 and 54 are also mounted to columniating plate 30 at angles a and b, respectively, and have heights h and H as measured from the face of columniating plate 30.

The variables I, L, A, B, a, b, h, and H will all vary depending on the dimensional characteristics of the oven and the type of flow of air entering the dispensing duct 10. For example, with a deeper oven cavity, it may be advantageous to have more air dams spaced at long distances I and L from opening 25. If the flow entering dispensing duct 10 is substantially laminar, a larger value for angles a and b, and heights h and H, may be required. The air dams of the present disclosure are thus advantageous in that they can be adjusted to accommodate for a variety of airflow types entering the dispensing duct. This saves on the engineering costs associated with selecting and optimizing the proper air flow entering the duct. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, all of the above discussed variables can be adjusted with knobs or other manual controls.

The present disclosure having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An impinging air duct, comprising: an opening at one end of the air duct, wherein an air flow enters the air duct through said opening;a columnating plate having a face with a plurality of orifices disposed thereon and a plurality of side walls, wherein said air flow passes over said columnating plate; andat least one air dam disposed along said face of said columnating plate, wherein said dam directs said air flow through said orifices.

2. The impinging air duct of claim 1, wherein a distance between said air dam and said opening is adjustable.

3. The impinging air duct of claim 1, wherein a height of said air dam is adjustable.

4. The impinging air duct of claim 1, wherein said air dam is connected to said side walls of said columnating plate, and an angle of connection between said air dam and said side wall of said columnating plate is adjustable.

5. The impinging air duct of claim 1, wherein an angle between said air dam and said face of said columnating plate is adjustable.

6. A method of directing air flow through an impinging air duct, said method comprising the steps of: supplying the air flow through an opening of the impinging air duct;directing the air flow through a plurality of columnating orifices disposed on a columnating plate disposed within the impinging air duct.