U.S. patent application number 11/669359 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for air diffuser for high velocity hvac systems.
This patent application is currently assigned to Decor Grates Incorporated. Invention is credited to Ralph OOSTERHUIS.
Application Number | 20080182505 11/669359 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39668529 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080182505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OOSTERHUIS; Ralph |
July 31, 2008 |
AIR DIFFUSER FOR HIGH VELOCITY HVAC SYSTEMS
Abstract
The air diffuser which is designed to be attached to an air
supply duct comprises a cannister having a closed and an air inlet
pipe proximate its closed end for attachment to the air supply
duct. The cannister also includes attachment means proximate its
open end so that the cannister can be secured to a supporting
frame. A hollow sleeve having an open bottom end is slidingly
insertable into the open end of the cannister, and at its top end
is provided with a first array of air discharge ports. Co-operating
means are located on an interior sidewall of the cannister and an
exterior sidewall of the sleeve which permits the sleeve and the
cannister to be telescoped together in a non-rotational
relationship and which also enables the sleeve to be detachably
connected to the cannister at selected telescopic positions. An air
diffuser cap provided with a second array of air discharge ports
overlies the top end of the sleeve and its associated first array
of air discharge ports and is rotationally movable relative thereto
to thereby control the passage of air through the discharge ports
of both arrays.
Inventors: |
OOSTERHUIS; Ralph;
(Thornhill, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERLEY-ROBERTSON, HILL & MCDOUGALL LLP
1400-340 Albert Street
OTTAWA
ON
K1R 0A5
omitted
|
Assignee: |
Decor Grates Incorporated
Toronto
CA
|
Family ID: |
39668529 |
Appl. No.: |
11/669359 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/290 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/06 20130101;
F24F 13/105 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/290 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/10 20060101
F24F013/10 |
Claims
1. An air diffuser for attachment to an air supply duct, said
diffuser comprising: (a) a cannister having a closed end and an
open end, an air inlet pipe connected to an exterior sidewall of
said cannister proximate said closed end for attachment to said air
supply duct and which is in air communication with an interior of
said cannister, and attachment means proximate said open end for
securing said cannister to a supporting frame; (b) a hollow sleeve
having an open bottom end slidingly insertable into said open end
of said cannister and a top end provided with a first array of air
discharge ports; (c) co-operating means on an interior sidewall of
said cannister and an exterior sidewall of said sleeve permitting
said sleeve and said cannister to be telescoped together in a
non-rotational relationship and enabling the sleeve to be
detachably connected to said cannister at selected telescopic
positions; (d) an air diffuser cap overlying and connected to said
top end of said sleeve and having a second array of air discharge
ports, said cap being rotationally movable relative to said sleeve
between a first open position where the discharge ports of the
first and second array are aligned for the passage of air
therethrough and a second closed position where the air discharge
passages of said first and second arrays are not aligned and the
passage of air therethrough is blocked; and (e) one of said sleeve
proximate its top end and said air diffuser cap including abutment
means projecting radially outwardly therefrom for engaging a facing
disposed between said abutment means and said mounting framework to
thereby limit the extent said sleeve can be telescopically inserted
into said cannister.
2. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cannister
and said sleeve are cylindrical in shape and wherein said
co-operating means permitting said sleeve and said connector to be
telescoped together in a non-rotational relationship includes an
elongate guide rail on one of said exterior sidewall of said sleeve
and interior sidewall of said cannister which is in sliding
engagement with an elongate guide groove on the other of said
exterior sidewall of said sleeve and interior sidewall of said
cannister.
3. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cannister
and said sleeve are cylindrical in shape and wherein said
co-operating means enabling the sleeve to be detachably connected
to said cannister at selected telescopic positions includes a row
of spaced apart recesses in one of said exterior sidewall of said
sleeve and said interior sidewall of said cannister and a
complimentary row of spaced apart projections on the other of said
exterior sidewall of said sleeve and said interior sidewall of said
cannister whereby a fixed number of recesses detachably engage a
corresponding number of projections when said cannister and said
sleeve are at one of said selected telescopic positions.
4. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 2 wherein said co-operating
means enabling the sleeve to be detachably connected to said
cannister at selected telescopic positions includes a row of spaced
apart recesses in one of said exterior sidewall of said sleeve and
said interior sidewall of said cannister and a complimentary row of
spaced apart projections on the other of said exterior sidewall of
said sleeve and said interior sidewall of said cannister whereby a
fixed number of recesses detachably engage a corresponding number
of projections when said cannister and said sleeve are at one of
said selected telescopic positions.
5. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 2 wherein said guide rail
is on said exterior sidewall of said sleeve.
6. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 3 wherein said row of
spaced apart recesses is in the exterior side wall of said
sleeve.
7. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said guide rail
and said row of spaced apart recesses are located on said exterior
sidewall of said sleeve.
8. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said diffuser cap
includes an annular skirt which is rotationally connected to said
exterior sidewall of said sleeve proximate said top end.
9. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 8 wherein said abutment
means comprises an annular flange surrounding said diffuser
cap.
10. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first and
second arrays of discharge ports are identical in
configuration.
11. The air diffuser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said hollow
sleeve at its said bottom end adjacent said air inlet pipe includes
an opening which permits the passage of air from said air inlet
pipe into the interior of said cannister when said sleeve is fully
inserted into said cannister.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an air diffuser or vent of the
type for use with high velocity HVAC systems.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A common shortcoming of air discharge vents or diffusers
which are connected to high velocity air ducts as used in heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is, inter alia,
the generation of unwanted air noise when attempting to dampen the
speed of pressurized air at or near the point of discharge into an
open space, such as a room. Prevost in U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,024
issued Oct. 5, 2004 discloses a damper arrangement when damping and
diffusing air supplied from a HVAC high velocity system, which
involves a termination receptacle or boot in the form of a
cylindrical cannister attached to an air supply duct. The cannister
at its upper or top end includes a supporting flange for attaching
the cannister to a supporting framework, such as the underside of a
floor. A cylindrical damper sleeve having a cutout in its bottom
end and which is telescopically received within the cannister, is
rotatable about its axis such that when aligned with the air inlet
opening in the cannister, unobstructed pressurized air is permitted
to enter into the cannister and which can be partially or fully
shut off by causing the sleeve to rotate relative to the air inlet
opening in the cannister. The sleeve which is attached to the vent
plate is inserted through an aperture in a room facing, such as a
ceiling, wall or floor and then into the cannister. Rotation of the
vent plate also rotates the sleeve and its cut-out relative to the
air inlet pipe to the cannister thereby controlling the rate of air
flow into the cannister.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0003] The novel air diffuser of this invention, like the air
diffuser arrangement disclosed by Prevost, involves the use of a
cannister, sleeve and diffuser cap or vent plate but which interact
in a manner different from that taught by Prevost and which results
in improved ease of installation and operation.
[0004] In accordance with this invention, the novel air diffuser
which is designed to be attached to a air supply duct, comprises a
cannister having a closed end and a open end, an air inlet pipe
connected to an exterior sidewall of the cannister proximate its
closed end for attachment to the air supply conduit and which is in
air communication with an interior of the cannister. The cannister
also includes attachment means proximate the open end of the
cannister so that the cannister can be secured to a supporting
frame, such as the underside of a floor or to a floor supporting
joist, wall stud or the inside surface of wall or ceiling facing or
sheathing material. A hollow sleeve having an open bottom end is
slidingly insertable into the open end of the cannister and at its
top end, is provided with a first array of air discharge ports.
Co-operating means are located on an interior sidewall of the
cannister and an exterior sidewall of the sleeve which permit the
sleeve and the cannister to be telescoped together in a
non-rotational relationship and which also enable the sleeve to be
detachably connected to the cannister at selected one or more
telescopic positions.
[0005] An air diffuser cap overlies and is connected to the top end
of the sleeve and is provided with a second array of air discharge
ports. Because the cap is also rotationally moveable relative to
the sleeve, it can be moved from a first open position where the
discharge ports of the first and second arrays are aligned for th
free passage of air therethrough, and a second closed position
where the air discharge passages of the first and second arrays are
completely out of alignment and the passage of air therethrough is
effectively blocked.
[0006] Since the spacing between the air diffuser cap which is
normally located interior of a room on a wall, floor or ceiling
facing, and which is also connected to the sleeve, relative to the
open end of the cannister (located on the opposite side of the
facing), can vary, and is usually a function of the thickness of
the floor, wall or ceiling through which the sleeve extends, either
the sleeve proximate its top end or the diffuser cap, is provided
with abutment means which projects radially outwardly therefrom for
engaging the room interior facing, such as the floor facing or the
ceiling facing, to thereby limit the extent to which the sleeve can
be telescopically inserted into the cannister and to render the cap
effectively flush or substantially flush with the facing.
[0007] When the discharge ports of the first and second arrays are
aligned in the first open position in order to maximize the passage
of air therethrough, the ratio of this air exhaust opening to the
air inlet pipe opening in the cannister is greater than 1:1 thereby
relieving all back pressure within the cannister with an attendant
reduction in air exhaust noise. Allowing the full volume of air to
exhaust unrestricted into the room also allows for more even
heating/cooling dispersion in the room and a more comfortable
atmosphere.
[0008] While the cannister and sleeve can be of any complimentary
cross-sectional form of construction e.g. rectangular or
triangular, it is preferred that both be cylindrical in shape.
[0009] The co-operating means which permits the sleeve and the
cannister to be telescoped together in a non-rotational
relationship can include an elongate guide rail on one of the
exterior side walls of the sleeve and an interior sidewall of said
cannister and which is in sliding engagement with an elongate guide
groove on the other of the exterior sidewall of the sleeve and
interior sidewall of the cannister. Similarly, the co-operating
means which enables the sleeve to be detachably connected to the
cannister at a selected telescopic position, can include at least
one row of spaced apart recesses in one of the exterior sidewalls
of the sleeve and the interior of the cannister and a complimentary
row or number of rows of spaced apart projections on the other of
the exterior sidewall of the sleeve and interior sidewall of the
cannister, whereby a fixed number of recesses detachably engage a
corresponding number of projections when the cannister and the
sleeve are at a desired telescopic position. Preferably, both the
guide rail and the row of spaced apart recesses are located on the
exterior sidewall of the sleeve.
[0010] Advantageously, and preferably when the sleeve and cannister
are cylindrical in shape, the diffuser cap can include an annular
skirt which is rotatably connected to the exterior sidewall of the
sleeve proximate its top end. Since the sleeve does not rotate
relative to the cannister, rotation of the diffuser cap relative to
the sleeve causes the discharge ports in the first and second
arrays, and which can be usually seen, to move between a fully open
and fully closed position. Further, the abutment means which
engages the sheathing or facing on the side opposite to the side
where the cannister is located, can simply comprise an annular
flange ring or disc which surrounds the diffuser cap.
[0011] In situations where the open bottom end of the sleeve, upon
installation, could extend sufficiently far into the cannister so
as to otherwise either fully or partially block the air inlet pipe,
the sidewall of the sleeve adjacent the pipe opening can be notched
or cut out, so that the opening is not obstructed by the sidewall
of the sleeve, no matter what its relative telescopic position
within the cannister may be.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In the accompanying drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the air diffuser of this
invention when in the assembled condition;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cannister portion of the
air diffuser;
[0015] FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views respectively of the air
diffuser cap from its bottom end and the sleeve from its top
end.
[0016] FIGS. 5 and 6 are similar perspective views to that of FIGS.
3 and 4 but wherein the abutment means is located on the sleeve
rather than on the diffuser cap; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the relative
positioning of the cannister located on one side of a facing, to
the cap and its associated sleeve which extends through an aperture
in the facing and into the cannister.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7, the novel diffuser
is constructed from three basic components, namely cylindrical
cannister 200, cylindrical sleeve 300 and air diffuser cap 400.
[0019] As illustrated, cylindrical cannister 200 includes exterior
sidewall 201, interior sidewall 202, bottom wall 203, mounting
flange 204, attachment holes 205 and air inlet pipe 206 which is
attached to an air supply duct or conduit (not shown) in a manner
well known in the art.
[0020] Further, and best illustrated in FIG. 2, interior sidewall
202 of cannister 200 includes an elongate guide groove 207 and two
opposed rows of recesses or notches, the function of which is
explained in greater detail below.
[0021] Cylindrical sleeve 300 best seen in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, is
provided with an open bottom end 301 and a cylindrical exterior
sidewall 303 having a cut-out or notch 305 its bottom end. The
other top end 302 of sleeve 300 is provided with a first array of
air discharge ports 304. Exterior sidewall 303 is provided with two
rows of opposed and spaced apart projections 306, and guide rail
309.
[0022] In order to enable sleeve 300 to be slidingly and/or
telescopically inserted into cannister 200, guide rail 309 on
exterior wall 303 of sleeve 300 must be aligned with guide groove
207 on cannister 200. By aligning guide rail 309 with guide groove
207, the row of notches 208 provided in the interior sidewall 202
of cannister 200 are brought into alignment with the two rows of
projections 306 located on the exterior sidewall 303 of sleeve 300.
By virtue of this arrangement, sleeve 300, due to the interaction
of guide rail 309 with guide groove 207, can only be telescoped
within cannister 200 in a non-rotational manner. Further, and as
the two parts are undergoing telescopic action, the two rows of
projections 306 are permitted to detachably engage corresponding
recesses in the two rows of recesses 208 in the interior sidewall
202 of cannister 200.
[0023] When cannister 200 and sleeve 300 are telescoped together at
a desired location, it will be apparent that a fixed number of
recesses in the interior sidewall 202 of the cannister engage in a
detachable manner (upon pulling or pushing sleeve 300) a
corresponding number of projections 306 in the exterior sidewall
303 of sleeve 300.
[0024] As cut-out 305 provided in sidewall 303 of sleeve 300 is
effectively in line with air inlet pipe 206 of cannister 200, it
will be evident that sleeve 300, even when fully inserted into
cannister 200, does not in any way impede the flow of air into
interior 202 of the cannister 200 from air inlet pipe 206.
[0025] As best seen with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the free or
top end 302 of sleeve 300, as mentioned earlier, is provided with a
first array of air ducts 304. As illustrated in these figures, air
diffuser cap 400 is provided with a second identical array of air
discharge ports 401 which overlie the ports 304 of the first array
located on the top end 302 of sleeve 300. Cap 400 is provided with
annular skirt 403 which as shown, includes a pair of laterally
opposed snap tangs 404 which are received in a corresponding pair
of slots 308 in sidewall of sleeve 300. These tangs 404 which are
engaged in snap engagement with slots 308 (only one being
illustrated), due to the longitudinal extent of the slots, permit
cap 400 to be rotated back and forth within the slots resulting in
the opening and closing of second array of discharge ports 401
relative discharge ports 304 on sleeve 300 which are positioned
therebelow.
[0026] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7, cap 400 which is rotatably
attached to sleeve 300 includes an annular flange 405 which, as
best seen in FIG. 7, is designed to abutingly engage facing surface
501 of floor 500 when sleeve 300 is inserted through circular
cut-out 503 and into the interior 202 of cannister 200. Since cap
400 is attached to sleeve 300, it will be apparent that ring 405
upon insertion of the sleeve into the cannister, will engage facing
surface 501 of floor 500 and thereby limit the extent to which the
sleeve can be inserted into the cannister. When in this position,
the sleeve and cannister are held in position due to the
interaction of the recesses in the cannister with the projections
on the sleeve. Further, once in situ, the degree of air discharge
from the cannister can be controlled from the facing side, merely
by rotating cap 400 relative to non-rotational sleeve 300 since the
first and second arrays are identical, and thus both sets of air
discharge ports can be rendered fully opened or closed.
[0027] With particular reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the diffuser cap
and sleeve arrangement as illustrated therein can be contrasted
with the cap and sleeve discussed earlier in connection with FIGS.
3, 4 and 7. As seen in FIG. 5, cap 400, while including skirt 403
and snap tangs 404, does not include the surrounding flange or ring
405 best illustrated in FIG. 3. Rather, a surrounding ring or
flange 310 is provided proximate the top end 302 of sleeve 300. In
this arrangement, the underside of flange 310 on skirt 300 is
intended to engage a floor, wall or ceiling facing in the same
manner that the underside of flange 405 of cap 400 seen in FIG. 7
is intended to engage facing 501 when the skirt 300 is inserted
through aperture 503 from the facing side into cannister 200.
* * * * *