The The present invention relates to ventilation systems and more particularly a four way blow ventilation systems located between a drop ceiling and a structural ceiling of a building.
a and 1b show a conventional four way blow ventilation system 100 for installation and use between a drop ceiling and a structural ceiling of a building. System 100 includes four separate induction units 102a, 102b, 102c, 10d. Each induction unit includes: a plenum 104; a heating/cooling unit 106; a drainage base 107; a mixing chamber outer wall 109; and nozzles 116. The induction unit mixes return air (shown by arrow R) from the building with primary air (shown by arrows P) from a primary air source (not shown) and returns mixed air (shown by arrows M to the room.
More specifically, primary air, which is usually cleaned and may be thermally conditioned, is provided under pressure through primary air conduits (not shown) in the direction of arrows P to each of the four separate plenums 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d as shown in
Each induction unit 102a,b,c,d defines a mixing chamber 108a,b,c,d. More specifically, in system 100, this mixing chamber (see DEFINITIONS section) is defined by: mixing chamber outer wall 109a,b,c,d and the drainage base 107. Although not shown for the sake of clarity of illustration, four way blow systems will generally include a grille that provides an inner wall for the mixing chamber below the heating/cooling unit. In the mixing chambers 108a,b,c,d, the return air R and the primary air P mix to form mixed air M. By the pressure of the primary air output by the venturi nozzles, the mixed air M is driven downwards and out of each induction unit, in the direction of the arrow M. Of course, the mixed air is generally cleaner than the ambient air in the room because of the use of clean primary air—this is generally one of the main purposes of having a ventilation system. The mixed air will also generally be heated or cooled relative to the air in the room because of thermal conditioning of the primary air and/or heating or cooling of the heating/cooling units—this is generally another main purpose of having a ventilation system.
In a four way blow ventilation system, the four units are generally suspended or supported over a drop ceiling so that the lower surfaces of the induction unit, and apertures 118, are more or less even with the drop ceiling. As mentioned above, conventional four way blow ventilation systems usually have a grill. This grille usually includes louvers at the location where the mixed air M leaves each induction unit. The louvers are oriented to direct the mixed air output by the ventilation system peripherally away from each induction unit. This forms an air pattern in the room where: (i) mixed air clings to the ceiling as it travels out in four directions away from the four way blow system; (ii) mixed air gradually drops into the volume of the room when it is away from the volume under the four way blow system; and (iii) return air from directly under the four way blow system rises up into the four way blow system. This is an advantageous air flow pattern in that it allows a relatively large quantity of air to circulate without causing noticeable drafts, and can promote in relatively uniform temperature distribution over the volume of a room. Generally speaking, a room may include more than one four way blow system in its ceiling, with the number and spacing of four way blow ventilation systems being professionally determine based on the characteristics of the room, the desired air quality or conditioning, the specifications of the four way blow systems and/or other conventionally understood factors.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,353 (“Akhtar”) shows an example of a four way blow ventilation system with four separate induction units. U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,010 (“Miller”) discloses an air handling system.
Description Of the Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent that specific publications are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section, these discussions should not be taken as an admission that the discussed publications (for example, published patents) are prior art for patent law purposes. For example, some or all of the discussed publications may not be sufficiently early in time, may not reflect subject matter developed early enough in time and/or may not be sufficiently enabling so as to amount to prior art for patent law purposes. To the extent that specific publications are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section, they are all hereby incorporated by reference into this document in their respective entirety(ies).
The present invention is directed to a 360 degree blow induction system with a single unitary plenum. The present invention is also directed to a 360 degree blow ventilation system with a single mixing chamber extending at least substantially entirely around the perimeter of the 360 degree blow ventilation system. The present invention is also directed to a 360 degree blow ventilation system with a single heating/cooling unit (see DEFINITIONS section) extending at least substantially entirely around the perimeter of the 360 degree blow ventilation system.
Various embodiments of the present invention may exhibit one or more of the following objects, features and/or advantages:
(1) improved air distribution within the unitary plenum;
(2) improved air distribution over the set of venturi nozzles between the plenum and the air mixing chamber;
(3) improved air distribution within the unitary air mixing chamber;
(4) because the unitary plenum and unitary air mixing chamber extend all the way around (including over any corner space), there is room for more nozzles within a given footprint;
(5) decrease in plenum volume;
(6) increased flexibility in dimensioning the unit to fit in a required space and still provide a required airflow (for example, trading off the vertical dimension against foot print size);
(7) greater area available to receive return air from the room;
(8) greater volume available for thermal treatment devices for the return air within the volume of the mixing chamber;
(9) improved air flow rate, improved air flow per unit of foot print area and improved air flow per unit of device volume;
(10) decreased installation costs; and/or
(11) decreased materials costs.
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
a is an orthographic top view of a prior art four way blow ventilation system;
b is an orthographic top view of a prior art four way blow ventilation system;
a is an orthographic bottom view of a third embodiment of a ventilation system according to the present invention;
b is a cross-sectional orthographic side view of the third embodiment system;
Discussion will begin with a couple of simplified, not necessarily preferred embodiments of the present invention (shown in
a and 23b show ventilation system 400 according to the present invention, including: unitary plenum portion 404; heating/cooling unit 406; drainage base 407; mixing chamber outer wall 409; and venturi nozzles 416. Primary air P is blown into the unitary plenum portion from a primary air source (see DEFINITIONS section). The primary air is then forced through the nozzles 416 and down into the mixing chamber 406. Although only two nozzles are shown in
Importantly and in distinction from the four way blow ventilation system discussed above in connection with
The heating/cooling unit is preferably in the form of coils made of pipes carrying heated or chilled water, but other types of heating/cooling units may be used with the present invention, such as electric heating coils. Some embodiments of the present invention may omit the heating/cooling unit altogether, but this is not necessarily preferred because it decreases the opportunity to do thermal conditioning of the mixed air output by the ventilation system. Additionally or alternatively, other air treatment components, such as ionizers could be placed at the location of heating/cooling unit 406 and/or elsewhere in the ventilation system.
Drainage base 407, in addition to providing the inner mixing chamber wall discussed above, also catches condensed moisture that falls from the heating/cooling unit. This moisture is drained from system 400 by any conventional means (not shown).
System 200 mixes primary air and return air to form mixed air, as discussed above in connection with prior art system 100. Primary air is fed under pressure from a primary air source (not shown) into the plenum intake conduit and through central aperture 205 (see
While generally similar to the prior art system 100, these venturi nozzles in system 200 can extend all the way into the corners of the footprint of the ventilation system. That means greater primary airflow can be accommodated in a given footprint and that this primary airflow is more evenly distributed around the perimeter of the footprint.
The air mixing chamber 208 is also unitary and extends all the way around the perimeter of system 200. As shown in
Heating/cooling unit 206 and/or any outer peripheral wall of the air return chamber must allow return air to be sucked through it into the mixing chamber. For example, with a heating/cooling unit made up of a matrix of pipes, as shown in
After passing through any thermal conditioning device(s), the return air is drawn by, and mixes with the primary air from the venturi nozzles in air mixing chamber 208 (that is located below the venturi nozzles) to form mixed air. This mixed air is driven out of the bottom side of the unitary air mixing chamber, preferably through louvers in the bottom grille (not shown) that are oriented to direct output mixed air peripherally outwards, at least substantially all the way around the perimeter of system 200. The direction of the flow of mixed air out of the ventilation system is shown by arrows M in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The following definitions are provided to facilitate claim interpretation and claim construction:
Present invention: means at least some embodiments of the present invention; references to various feature(s) of the “present invention” throughout this document do not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods include the referenced feature(s).
First, second, third, etc. (“ordinals”): Unless otherwise noted, ordinals only serve to distinguish or identify (e.g., various members of a group); the mere use of ordinals implies neither a consecutive numerical limit nor a serial limitation.
Mechanically connected: Includes both direct mechanical connections, and indirect mechanical connections made through intermediate components; includes rigid mechanical connections as well as mechanical connection that allows for relative motion between the mechanically connected components; includes, but is not limited, to welded connections, solder connections, connections by fasteners (for example, nails, bolts, screws, nuts, hook-and-loop fasteners, knots, rivets, force fit connections, friction fit connections, connections secured by engagement added by gravitational forces, quick-release connections, pivoting or rotatable connections, slidable mechanical connections, latches and/or magnetic connections).
Chamber: a chamber shall be considered as a chamber even if it is not fully enclosed by solid walls and/or leaks some air, so long as it effectively acts substantially like a chamber with respect to directing airflows.
At least substantially around: any gaps must be less than the gaps typical of a similarly sized four way blow ventilation system.
Heating/cooling unit: a device that can heat air, cool air or both; may be made up of multiple physically separate sub-units; heating/cooling units are not necessarily limited with respect to source of power and/or heating cooling mechanism or medium.
Primary air: air from a source other than the space being ventilated, not necessarily limited with respect to: air quality and/or thermal conditioning.
To the extent that the definitions provided above are consistent with ordinary, plain, and accustomed meanings (as generally shown by documents such as dictionaries and/or technical lexicons), the above definitions shall be considered supplemental in nature. To the extent that the definitions provided above are inconsistent with ordinary, plain, and accustomed meanings (as generally shown by documents such as dictionaries and/or technical lexicons), the above definitions shall control. If the definitions provided above are broader than the ordinary, plain, and accustomed meanings in some aspect, then the above definitions shall be considered to broaden the claim accordingly.
To the extent that a patentee may act as its own lexicographer under applicable law, it is hereby further directed that all words appearing in the claims section, except for the above-defined words, shall take on their ordinary, plain, and accustomed meanings (as generally shown by documents such as dictionaries and/or technical lexicons), and shall not be considered to be specially defined in this specification. In the situation where a word or term used in the claims has more than one alternative ordinary, plain and accustomed meaning, the broadest definition that is consistent with technological feasibility and not directly inconsistent with the specification shall control.
Unless otherwise explicitly provided in the claim language, steps in method steps or process claims need only be performed in the same time order as the order the steps are recited in the claim only to the extent that impossibility or extreme feasibility problems dictate that the recited step order (or portion of the recited step order) be used. This broad interpretation with respect to step order is to be used regardless of whether the alternative time ordering(s) of the claimed steps is particularly mentioned or discussed in this document.
The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/045,462, filed on Apr. 16, 2008; all of the foregoing patent-related document(s) are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their respective entirety(ies).
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61045462 | Apr 2008 | US |