Air Flow System With Full Control Elliptical Vane Louvers

Abstract

An air conditioner, heater, or other air or fluid flow system having a louver unit for controlling the direction and volume of fluid flow therethrough from direct full forward flow to completely mechanically shut off condition. In air flow systems that have only one louver unit there is little or no advantage to mechanically shut off the air flow, since this can be accomplished more economically by the power shut off switch. However, in automotive and other air conditioning or heater units that employ two or more louver units there is a definite advantage to a mechanical shut off employed in combination with an elliptical vane structure that provides a full and incremental control of vane and consequently airflow direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to air flow control systems, and more particularly to a novel louver unit that provides a full range of air control in incremental steps from fully open to fully closed.

2. Statement of the Prior Art

The prior art discloses air conditioners with louver units that employ a series of elliptical vanes. Typical, but not exclusively representative of this type of prior art are the patents to R. C. First, U.S. Pat. No. 3,252,398, and to W. G. Crowle, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,853,935. Neither of these patents disclose any means to obtain the fully shut off condition necessary in the applicant's combination for providing a full range of air control by incremental steps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel air flow control system with a unique louver unit that includes the necessary structure and elements to provide a full range of both directivity and volume control from an attitude of straight forward fully open, through 360.degree. directivity changes in the vanes, resulting in an output flow directivity of a pattern of approximately 45.degree. in each direction: up, down, right, left, and all angles between these positions; simultaneously, the volume of air flow may be changed incrementally from 100 to 0 percent of the available air.

Another object is to provide an air flow control system (heating or cooling) for automotive installation that employs two or more louver units disclosed herein, whereby a driver alone in a vehicle will be able to completely close off one or more louver units and receive the full impact of all of the available air flow on himself and with incremental control of both the direction and volume of such air flow. In automotive air conditioners due to the tremendous heat exposure (sun thru glass, etc.) it is virtually impossible to cool the automobile per se, so the key to a successful automobile air conditioner is not to cool the automobile, but to cool the passengers, and to do this requires full control of the air flow both as to directivity and to volume. In many instances there will only be a driver in the automobile and with the air conditioner of this invention, he can direct all of the available air flow on himself and obtain the maximum benefit of the equipment. As the passengers increase the controls are changed to obtain the maximum utilization for all, including the requirement of an occasional passenger who desires no air flow at all in his direction, in which event his louver unit is closed off entirely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a pictorial view of a typical air conditioner using this invention.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the unique louver unit of the air conditioner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the louver unit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the louver unit of FIGS. 2 & 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the louver unit of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the louver unit of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the device shown in FIGS. 4-6.

FIG. 8 is a front view similar to FIG. 4, but with the air exit open.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of this invention that is particularly adapted to automotive use. This air conditioner 1 includes the usual electrical controls for starting and refrigeration control and includes the unique louver units 2, shown in detail in FIGS. 2-8.

FIG. 2 shows the louver unit 2 detached from the air conditioner of FIG. 1 and with its air exit (or door frame) 3 closed by the exit door 4 which forms a part of the box-like frame having four sides and identified herein as box frame 5. The air opening or exit 3 is defined by the front face plate 6 which is recessed into the stationary louver frame 7. The frame 7 is attached to the main housing 8 of the air conditioner 1 by means of pins 9 (although any suitable fastening means may be employed). The box frame 5 includes horizontally extending pins 11 which are supported for rotary movement in bearing seats 12. The bearing seats 12 define a circular opening 13 of substantially the same diameter as that of pins 11 and the opening 13 is greater than a semi-circle and has an outwardly facing opening that is slightly smaller than pins 11. Since the construction of the bearing seats 12 is plastic that is slightly yieldable, when pin 11 is forced into the outward facing opening of bearing seat 13, the ears 14 of the bearing seat will spread outward and permit the pin 11 to pass into the circular opening 13, whereupon the ears 14 snap back into place and secure the pin 11 in the bearing seat 12 for rotary motion. The arrow 15 on the front of door 4, near the knurled turning wheel 16, indicates the direction the wheel 16 is to be rotated to open the exit 3 and permit cooled air to be discharged under pressure created by the squirrel cage blowers 17 shown in outline form in FIG. 1 after the air is passed over refrigerated coils (not shown) within housing 8. It will be noted that wheel 16 will permit the doors 4 and 4A to be opened and closed in incremental steps of the operator's choosing from fully open to fully closed position.

FIG. 3 shows the box frame 5 detached from its bearing seats 12. From this view the box construction of this movable frame 5 is apparent. Two parallel doors 4 and 4A are connected at their ends by end member 18 which supports one pin 11, and by turning wheel 16 which supports the other pin 11. Adjacent the top side of end member 18 are two slightly raised stops 19 and 19A for the purpose of striking against the inner periphery 21 of face plate 6 and limiting the amount of rotary travel of the box frame 6. Each end member 16 and 18 includes a slotted opening 22 surrounded by ears 23 whereby bearing seats 24, similar to bearing seats 12 are formed which will receive pins 25 of rotary vane assembly or array 26. The individual vanes 27 are elliptical in shape and are parallel mounted on shaft 28. It will be noted in FIG. 3A and FIG. 5 that the pins 25 which are an extension of shaft 28 are mounted in the bearing seats 24 in a position that is off center relative to the axis formed by a line passing thru pins 11. This means that the vanes 27 will be projecting further out of the frame 5 at one side (the top in FIG. 3A) than the other. And this side of maximum projection is the side that will appear in opening 3 when neither door 4 or 4A is in a position to close this opening. The knurled control wheel 29 is used to permit the operator (usually the driver in an automobile in which the air conditioner 1 of FIG. 1 is installed) to control the direction of air flow. The advantage of a series of elliptical vanes as shown in FIG. 3B in a louver unit of this type is that it eliminates the necessity of having separate horizontal and vertical guides or vanes, since the elliptical ganged array accomplishes the same purpose and actually provides a better result than flat rectangular vanes and guides. FIG. 3C shows the open frame 7 into which will be inserted box frame 5, after the vane assembly 26 has been installed therein. It should be noted that control wheel 29 will permit the vanes 27 to be moved from one direction to the opposite direction in incremental steps as small or as large as the operator wishes to make them.

FIG. 4 is a full front view of the louver unit 2 with door 4 in its closed position. In this position, the stop 19 is in a position of engagement with the underside of the inner periphery 21 of face plate 6. When turning knob 16 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 15 for approximately 90.degree. then the open top (see FIG. 3A) of box frame 5 will appear in exit opening 3 and the vane array 26 will be in its operating position (as seen in FIG. 8). Upon further rotation of box frame 5 in the same direction, door 4A will appear in the opening 3, and again close the air exit. This time, however, the opposite stop 19A will be engaging periphery 21 at the bottom of frame 7 and the arrow 15 will be pointing in the opposite direction. The reason for the arrows 15 and the reason they point in opposite directions is that the stops 19 and 19A will prevent the box frame 5 from being rotated in a direction opposite to the arrow. So the arrow shows the permissible direction of rotation. The reason the stops are necessary is to permit exposure of only the side of box frame 5 from which the elliptical vanes project due to the offset of the vane pin bearing seats 22. And the vane pin bearing seats are offset because it is desirable to have the vanes project as close as possible to the edge of the louver frame 7.

In FIG. 5 the offset described above is clearly shown, and when wheel 16 is rotated counterclockwise in this view, the axis of pin 25 will be seen to move toward the front of frame 7 and carry wheel 29 and consequently vanes 27 with it. The wheel 16 in this view is seen to have a flat bottom portion 16A which represents the side of box frame 5 and turning wheel 16 that is never exposed into louver frame opening 3.

FIG. 6 shows the cooperative relationship of the multiple elliptical rotary vane array 26, the rotatable box frame 5, and the stationary louver main frame 7. The box frame 5 for example is pivoted to rotate within frame 7, but its rotation is limited to a total peripherial exposure in the exit 3 of approximately 270.degree., with movement in either direction relative to frame 7, since the limitation on its rotation is necessary to insure the proper function of the vane array 26 which is pivoted within the main frame 7 for full 360.degree. rotation therewithin. The louver frame 7 provides the fixed relationship of the louver 2 to the air conditioner 1 and cooperates with the box frame 5 to limit the latters rotation, and the box frame supports and permits rotation of the rotary vane array 26 to direct air flow when the exit 3 is not closed by one of the doors 4 or 4A, then the other door 4A or 4 serves an unobvious function of blocking the full impact of a pressurized air stream against the juncture of the outer edges of the door 4 (or 4A) and the inner periphery 21 of the face plate 6. A direct flow of air against this juncture would tend to cause leakage through the tolerance area or extremely small space between the door and the frame 7, whereas a diverted air flow will have an unnoticeable leakage at this juncture.

FIG. 7 shows how the back door 4A stands between the operating exit door 4 and the peripherial line 21 at the juncture between frames 5 and 7 at the closed position of the louver unit 2. A similar condition exists between the bottom of door 4 and the louver edge of periphery 21.

FIG. 8 is a view of the louver unit 2 of FIG. 4 with the door 4 open so that the open front side of box frame 5 coincides with the opening 3 to expose the rotary vane array and permit air to be directed through the open back side of box frame 5, past the elliptical vanes 27 and out through the open front side and past exit opening 3 in a direction to cool the operator.

From the foregoing description and examples it will be seen that there has been produced a device which substantially fulfills the objects of this invention as set forth herein. The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a fluid flow control system, a louver unit, comprising:

a. a main frame having a fluid exit therein of a specific size,

b. a second frame pivotally mounted with said main frame and having at least one side member of substantially said specific size adapted to form a door for said exit,

c. a vane array pivotally mounted within said second frame to direct air in a desired direction thru said exit,

d. means in said second frame involving rotation of said second frame to selectively open and close said exit in incremental steps from fully open to fully closed condition,

e. and means in said vane array to selectively direct fluid flow thru that portion of said exit remaining open.

2. A louver unit as in claim 1 wherein said second frame is an open box frame that includes at least one door integrally and rigidly attached thereto as a side member thereof which moves with said box frame to open and close said exit.

3. A louver unit as in claim 1 wherein said second frame includes a plurality of doors which rotate with said second frame from a position of closure to an open position and thence to a second and different position of closure relative to said exit.

4. A louver unit as in claim 3 wherein said second frame is readily removably mounted to said main frame about a horizontal axis in said main frame and wherein said doors rotate with said second frame and about said horizontal axis to selectively open and close said exit.

5. A louver unit as in claim 4, wherein said main frame and second frame include means to limit the rotary movement of said second frame within said main frame to a total peripherial exposure in said exit of approximately 270.degree..

6. A louver unit as in claim 1 wherein said second frame includes a stop adjacent said door to limit the movement of said second frame when said door has fully occupied said fluid exit.

7. A louver unit as in claim 1 wherein said vane array comprises a horizontal shaft and a pin projecting outward at each end of said shaft, and means for mounting said pins in said second frame to permit rotary movement of said vane array about a second horizontal axis in said second frame offset from said first named axis in a direction to occupy a position closer to said fluid exit when said exit is open.

8. A louver unit as in claim 4 wherein said vane array comprises a horizontal shaft and means for mounting said vane array in said second frame for rotating said vane array about a second horizontal axis in said second frame, and wherein said vane axis is offset from said horizontal axis in said main frame in a direction to move said vane array closer to said exit at one position of rotation of said second frame.

9. In an air flow control system, a louver unit comprising:

a. a main frame having a fluid exit therein,

b. a box frame pivotally mounted in the main frame,

c. a rotary vane array on a shaft pivotally mounted within said box frame,

d. means in said box frame to selectively open and close said exit,

e. said means comprising parallel doors forming an integral part of said box frame, and positionable between said exit and array

f. a second means in said vane array to selectively direct air flow through said exit,

g. said second means comprising a series of elliptical vanes mounted parallel to each other and oblique to said shaft;

h. said box frame being pivotally mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis in said main frame and move said doors into and out of a position of closure relative to said exit,

i. and said vane array being pivotally mounted to rotate about a second horizontal axis in said box frame,

j. said second horizontal axis being offset from said first horizontal axis in a direction to move said vane array in the direction of said exit when neither of said doors occupies a position of closure relative to said exit.