U.S. patent application number 11/723982 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-08 for shutter movement device for climate control apparatuses.
This patent application is currently assigned to EMERSON NETWORK POWER S.R.L.. Invention is credited to Giuliano Grigoletto, Stefano Michieli.
Application Number | 20070256445 11/723982 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38222446 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070256445 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grigoletto; Giuliano ; et
al. |
November 8, 2007 |
Shutter movement device for climate control apparatuses
Abstract
A device for moving a shutter for blocking and diverting an air
stream, in climate control apparatuses, comprising a rotating
element actuated by an electric motor and pivoted to a containment
frame for at least part of the machine body of a climate control
apparatus, a first end of a traction and pusher cable being rigidly
coupled to the rotating element, its opposite end being rigidly
coupled to the louver of a shutter of the louver type to be moved.
The cable is arranged slidable within a sheath fixed to the frame
by means of two brackets, a first one proximate to the rotating
element and a second one at the opening which can be closed by the
louver.
Inventors: |
Grigoletto; Giuliano;
(Brugine, IT) ; Michieli; Stefano; (Sant'Angelo Di
Piove, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MODIANO & ASSOCIATI
Via Meravigli, 16
MILAN
20123
omitted
|
Assignee: |
EMERSON NETWORK POWER
S.R.L.
|
Family ID: |
38222446 |
Appl. No.: |
11/723982 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 30/54 20130101;
F24F 2011/0006 20130101; F24F 2013/1453 20130101; Y02B 30/542
20130101; F24F 1/028 20190201; F24F 1/0314 20190201; F24F 2013/1433
20130101; F24F 13/105 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/408 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 5, 2006 |
IT |
PD2006A000177 |
Claims
1. A device for moving a shutter for blocking and diverting an air
stream, in a climate control apparatus, comprising: a containment
frame for at least part of a machine body of the climate control
apparatus; a rotating element; pivoted to said containment frame;
an electric motor connected to said rotating element for actuation
thereof; a louver type shutter comprising a louver; a traction and
pusher cable that has a first end thereof rigidly coupled to said
rotating element and a second opposite end that is rigidly coupled
to the louver of said shutter to be moved, said cable being
provided with a sheath which is fixed to said frame by way of two
brackets, a first one of which is located proximate to said
rotating element and a second one is located at an opening of the
shutter which can be closed by said louver, the cable being further
slidable within said sheath.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said rotating element is
constituted by a spool, that is actuated directly by said electric
motor or by way of reduction gears connected to an electric motor
which actuates a cylindrical type shutter.
3. A climate control apparatus of the free cooling type, having a
box-shaped containment body and comprising arranged inside the
containment body: a first main fan, for drawing air from an
enclosed space or from an outside environment; a first, cylindrical
type shutter, located upstream of the first fan, for selecting an
air stream aspirated by the first fan, from either ambient air for
a first direct cooling conditioning mode or external air for a
second free cooling conditioning mode; an evaporator, to which the
first fan sends aspirated air to introduce the air in an internal
space to be climate controlled; a condenser which is associated
with said evaporator; a second fan for providing a passage of air
over said condenser; a second louver type shutter, which is adapted
to divert an air stream that exists from the enclosed space either
toward said second fan, when the climate control apparatus is
operating in the second free cooling mode, or toward said first
shutter, which is at least partly open toward the first fan, to
make said first fan aspirate at least partly ambient air, in the
first cooling mode with ambient air recirculation; a compressor,
which is associated with the condenser and the evaporator so as to
form a refrigeration circuit for cooling aspirated air; a
containment frame for at least part of a machine body of the
climate control apparatus; a device, for moving said second
shutter, that is consituted by a rotating element, pivoted to said
containment frame, by an electric motor for actuating said rotating
element, by a traction and pusher cable that has a first end
thereof rigidly coupled to said rotating element and a second
opposite end rigidly coupled to a louver to be moved, said cable
being provided with a sheath which is fixed to said frame by way of
two brackets, a first one of which is proximate to the rotating
element and a second one is located at an opening which can be
closed by said louver, said cable being slidable within said
sheath.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for moving a
shutter for blocking and diverting an air stream, particularly for
climate control apparatuses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Air conditioning devices provided with the option known as
"free cooling" are currently known in the field of the climate
control of enclosed spaces, such as industrial systems, telephone
exchanges, offices, private dwellings and the like.
[0003] The free cooling option is based on the ability of the
climate control apparatus to use, for conditioning an enclosed
space, air which arrives from outside when said air has a higher
enthalpy value than the air of the internal space.
[0004] Free cooling allows considerable energy saving on the part
of the user as well as healthier management of the air of the
internal space, which is appropriately changed when free cooling is
activated.
[0005] A climate control apparatus of the free cooling type is the
subject of U.S. Ser. No. 11/657,444 of Jan. 25, 2007 in the name of
this same Applicant and comprises, within a box-like containment
body: [0006] a first main fan for aspirating air from the enclosed
space or from outside, [0007] a first shutter of the cylindrical
type, arranged upstream of the first fan, for selecting the air
stream aspirated by the first fan, either ambient air for a first
direct cooling conditioning mode or external air for a second free
cooling conditioning mode, [0008] an evaporator, to which the first
fan sends the aspirated air to introduce into the room to be
climate-controlled, [0009] a condenser, which is associated with
the evaporator, [0010] a second fan for the passage of air over
said condenser, [0011] a second shutter, which is adapted to divert
the air stream that exits from the enclosed space either toward the
second fan, when the climate control apparatus is operating in the
second free cooling mode, or toward the first shutter, which is at
least partially open toward the first fan, for aspiration by said
first fan at least partly of ambient air, in the first cooling mode
with ambient air recirculation, [0012] a compressor which is
associated with the condenser and the evaporator so as to form a
refrigeration circuit for cooling the aspirated air.
[0013] This climate control apparatus can operate according to
three modes: a first direct cooling conditioning mode, i.e., in
which the refrigeration circuit is active; a second free cooling
conditioning mode, i.e., with the refrigeration circuit off, and a
third forced free cooling conditioning mode, in which the
refrigeration circuit is off but the second fan for the passage of
air over the condenser is active and draws air from the internal
environment.
[0014] By way of the second shutter which connects the internal
environment to the second fan, this third mode allows to increase
the efficiency and effectiveness of the free cooling operating mode
simply by activating the second fan while the refrigeration circuit
is off.
[0015] In this third mode, the second fan is adapted to draw air
from the internal environment, increasing its replacement rate.
[0016] Correct, precise and timely movement of the second shutter
is particularly important; said second shutter is of the louver
type and is designed to divert the air stream which flows from the
internal environment toward the outside or toward the first fan in
case of recirculation or toward the second fan in case of free
cooling or forced free cooling conditioning.
[0017] Generally, the shutters of climate control apparatuses with
free cooling option are of the tilting type and are moved by means
of an electric motor drive which turns them, by means of a shaft
associated therewith, with respect to one of their axes.
[0018] The provision of such an electric motor drive entails costs
in terms of components (electric motor and control electronics),
associated consumptions and bulk within the box-like containment
body.
[0019] Further, said known type of movement device, by having an
electric motor drive, must be supplied with power by means of
appropriate wiring, which like the electric motor drive can
fail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The aim of the present invention is to provide a movement
device for a louver for blocking and diverting an air stream,
particularly for climate control apparatuses, which is cheaper and
more reliable than known types of movement device.
[0021] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to
provide a movement device which is simple to install.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
movement device which can be easily synchronized mechanically with
the actuation of a shutter of the cylindrical type which might be
part of the climate control apparatus.
[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
movement device for a louver for blocking and diverting an air
stream, particularly for climate control apparatuses, which can be
manufactured with known systems and technologies.
[0024] This aim and these and other objects, which will become
better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a device for moving a
shutter for blocking and diverting an air stream, particularly for
climate control apparatuses, characterized in that it comprises a
rotating element, which is actuated by an electric motor and is
pivoted to a containment frame for at least part of the machine
body of a climate control apparatus, a first end of a traction and
pusher cable being rigidly coupled to said rotating element, its
opposite end being rigidly coupled to the louver of a shutter of
the louver type to be moved, said cable being arranged so as to
slide within a sheath which is fixed to the frame by means of two
brackets, a first one proximate to the rotating element and a
second one at the opening which can be closed by said louver.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become better apparent from the following detailed description of a
preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way
of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a device according to the
invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a top view of the device according to the
invention;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the device according to
the invention in a first configuration thereof in which the louver
is open;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the device according to
the invention in a second configuration in which the louver is
closed;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the device according
to the invention inside a climate control apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] With reference to the figures, a device for moving a shutter
for blocking and diverting an air stream, particularly for climate
control apparatuses according to the invention, is generally
designated by the reference numeral 10.
[0032] The device 10 comprises a rotating element 11, which is
actuated by an electric motor, not shown for the sake of
simplicity, and is pivoted to a frame 12 for containing at least
part of the machine body of a climate control apparatus 13.
[0033] A first end 14 of a traction and pusher cable 15 is rigidly
coupled to the rotating element 11, and its opposite end 16 is
rigidly coupled to a louver 17 to be moved of a shutter 26 of the
louver type.
[0034] The cable 15 is arranged so as to slide within a sheath 18
which is fixed to the frame 12 by means of two brackets 19 and
20.
[0035] The first bracket 19 is arranged proximate to the rotating
element 11 and the second bracket 20 is arranged at an opening 21
of the shutter which can be closed by the louver 17.
[0036] In this embodiment of the invention, which is a nonlimiting
example, the rotating element 11 is a spool, which is arranged so
as to turn about its own axis 11a and is provided with a slot 22
through which the first end 14 of the cable 15, provided with an
extraction-preventing ball, is inserted.
[0037] The spool can be actuated directly by means of an electric
motor or, by interposing reduction gears shown schematically in
FIG. 1 and designated therein by the reference numeral 33, by the
same electric motor that actuates another shutter with which the
climate control apparatus to which the device 10 belongs is
optionally equipped.
[0038] The sheath 18 is of the type commonly used for bicycle
brakes; its locking to the frame 12 by means of the brackets 19 and
20 allows to actuate the louver 17 with the cable 15 both by
pulling and by pushing.
[0039] The sheath 18 is fixed to the first bracket 19 by means of a
tension regulator 27 of the screw type, which by way of a spring
keeps the cable 15 constantly tensioned, facilitating the
instantaneous and simultaneous conversion of the rotary motion of
the rotating element 11 into the movement of the louver 17.
[0040] In the embodiment described here, the climate control
apparatus 13 has a first shutter 23 of the cylindrical type.
[0041] The cylindrical shutter 23 is composed for example of a
first outer drum 23a, which is rigidly coupled to the frame 12, and
a second inner drum 23b, which is shaped so as to close, by turning
about its own axis 23c, the front openings 24 or lateral openings
25 of the first outer drum 23a.
[0042] The rotation of the second drum 23a about its own axis 23c
is transmitted to the rotating element 11 by means of the gears
33.
[0043] In this manner, the rotating element 11, and the louver 17
with it, are moved not by means of an appropriately provided
electric motor drive, which is wired and managed by the electronic
control unit of the climate control apparatus, but by means of the
same motor drive that actuates the cylindrical shutter 23; the
movements of the cylindrical shutter 23 and of the louver shutter
26 to which the louver 17 belongs are therefore synchronized by
means of the gears 33.
[0044] Said gears are understood to be of a known type and can be
provided by means of components whose type and number of reduction
stages can vary according to requirements.
[0045] The invention also relates to a climate control apparatus 13
of the free cooling type provided with a device 10 as described
above.
[0046] The climate control apparatus 13 comprises, within a
box-like containment body 27: [0047] a first main fan 28, for
drawing air from the enclosed space 29 or from the outside 30;
[0048] a first shutter 23 of the cylindrical type, upstream of the
first fan 28, for selecting the air stream aspirated by the first
fan 28, either ambient air for a first direct cooling conditioning
mode or external air for a second free cooling conditioning mode,
[0049] an evaporator 31, to which the first fan 28 sends the
aspirated air to introduce it in the internal space 29 to be
climate controlled, [0050] a condenser 32 which is associated with
the evaporator 31; [0051] a second fan 34 for providing a passage
of air over the condenser 32, [0052] a second shutter 26 of the
louver type, which is adapted to divert the air stream that exits
from the enclosed space 29 either toward the second fan 34, when
the climate control apparatus 13 is operating in the second free
cooling mode, or toward the first shutter 23, which is at least
partly open toward the first fan 28, to make said first fan
aspirate at least partly ambient air, in the first cooling mode
with ambient air recirculation; [0053] a compressor 35, which is
associated with the condenser 32 and with the evaporator 31 so as
to form a refrigeration circuit for cooling the aspirated air.
[0054] The climate control apparatus 13 is characterized in that
the second shutter 26 is moved by the device 10 according to the
invention, which accordingly is constituted by the rotating element
11, which is actuated by an electric motor and is pivoted to the
compartment for containing the first cylindrical shutter 23; as
described above, the first end 14 of the traction and pusher cable
15 is rigidly coupled to the rotating element 11, and its opposite
end 16 is rigidly coupled to the louver 17 to be moved.
[0055] The cable 15 is arranged so as to slide within the sheath 18
which is fixed to the frame of the climate control apparatus 13 by
way of two brackets: the first bracket 19, proximate to the
rotating element 11, and the second bracket 20 at the opening 21
which can be closed by the louver 17.
[0056] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate by way of example another similar
use of the device according to the invention applied to a climate
control apparatus provided with the cylindrical shutter 23 and the
louver shutter 26.
[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a first configuration of
the device 10, with the first cylindrical shutter 23 with closed
lateral openings 25 (and front openings 24 which are not shown and
are open), while the second shutter 26 has the louver 17 open.
[0058] In this first configuration, the external air, whose
behavior is represented by the arrows, passes through the opening
21 of the second shutter 26 and is introduced into the enclosed
space through the front openings 24 of the first shutter 23, which
are not shown in FIG. 3 and are open.
[0059] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a second configuration of
the device 10, with the first cylindrical shutter 23 with open
lateral openings 25 (and front openings 24 which are not visible
and are closed), while the second shutter 26 has the louver 17
closed.
[0060] In said second configuration, the external air cannot enter,
since the second shutter 26 is closed, and the associated fan
aspirates recirculated air from the internal enclosed space.
[0061] In practice it has been found that the invention thus
described achieves the intended aim and objects.
[0062] In particular, the present invention provides a device for
moving a louver for blocking and diverting an air stream,
particularly for climate control apparatuses, which is cheaper and
more reliable than known types of movement device.
[0063] The cable-operated movement of the louver shutter and the
spool rotation synchronized mechanically directly with the movement
of the cylindrical shutter in fact ensure a constant ratio in the
reciprocating opening and closing movements of the two shutters
without installing two electric motor drives, whose operation is
coordinated by means of an electronic unit, to manage the actuation
of the two shutters.
[0064] Moreover, the present invention provides a movement device
which is very simple to install and requires quick and commonly
known types of mechanical work.
[0065] Further, the present invention provides a climate control
apparatus which is equipped with a device according to the same
invention.
[0066] Moreover, the present invention provides a movement device
for a louver for blocking and diverting an air stream, particularly
for climate control apparatuses, and a climate control apparatus
equipped with such a device, which can be manufactured with known
systems and technologies.
[0067] In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are
compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be
any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
[0068] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
PD2006A000177 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
* * * * *