U.S. patent number 3,765,317 [Application Number 05/310,414] was granted by the patent office on 1973-10-16 for adjustable nozzle assembly.
Invention is credited to Robert A. Lowe.
United States Patent |
3,765,317 |
Lowe |
October 16, 1973 |
ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An adjustable nozzle assembly primarily for use in air ducts
where it is desired to direct a localized flow of air to a
predetermined position. The assembly includes a nozzle tube, a
spherical member through which the nozzle tube passes and a base
which allows rotation of the spherical member and attaches the
assembly to the air conditioning duct. The nozzle tube includes a
cutout in the side thereof so that by moving the nozzle tube inward
or outward with respect to the spherical member, the cutout allows
more or less flow as desired. The direction of the flow is adjusted
by rotating the spherical member until the nozzle tube points in
the desired directon. Predetermined clearances are also provided
between the members of the assembly to prevent condensation of
water vapor thereon.
Inventors: |
Lowe; Robert A. (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23202390 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/310,414 |
Filed: |
November 29, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/286;
239/587.1; 239/587.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
13/10 (20130101); E04D 13/1471 (20130101); F24F
13/065 (20130101); B64D 2013/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24F
13/065 (20060101); F24F 13/06 (20060101); E04D
13/147 (20060101); F24F 13/10 (20060101); E04D
13/14 (20060101); F24f 013/08 (); F24f
013/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;98/4R,4A
;239/456,587 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
732,070 |
|
Feb 1943 |
|
DD |
|
351,050 |
|
May 1930 |
|
GB |
|
465,740 |
|
May 1937 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Ward, Jr.; Robert S.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable nozzle assembly for use in conjunction with a
duct, said assembly including:
a base for attaching said assembly to the duct, said base including
interior semi-spherical flanges which extend outwardly
therefrom;
a generally spherical adjustment member positioned within and
retained by said semi-spherical flanges, said adjustment member
being open at opposite ends to define a diametral bore
therethrough; and
a nozzle tube positioned in said diametral bore, said nozzle tube
being sealed at a first end and open at the opposite end thereof
and having an open side portion adjacent said first end, whereby
said nozzle tube is movable within said adjustment member to expose
said open side portion and said adjustment member is rotatable
within said base so said opposite end of said nozzle tube can be
pointed in a desired direction.
2. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said base
includes:
a first base member having an interior semi-spherical flange
extending within the duct; and
a second base member which mates with said first base member having
an interior semi-spherical flange extending away from the duct.
3. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said base
includes:
friction members mounted on said semi-spherical flanges in position
to engage and frictionally retain said adjustment member in the
desired position, said friction members being spaced apart and
spacing said adjustment member from said semi-spherical flanges to
form a gap, whereby said gap enables a limited flow over said
adjustment member to prevent condensation thereon.
4. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustment
member includes a collar about the diametral bore at the end
thereof away from the duct, said collar including retention means
which maintain desired relative positions of said nozzle tube and
said adjustment member.
5. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said collar has
an inner cylindrical surface of a diameter larger than the outer
diameter of said nozzle tube whereby a gap is defined therebetween
to enable a limited flow over said nozzle tube to prevent
condensation thereon.
6. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 5 wherein said collar has a
inner cylindrical surface with discontinuities extending therefrom
to abut said nozzle tube to assist in maintaining said gap.
7. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 5 wherein said defined
diametral bore has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of
said nozzle tube whereby a second gap is defined between said
diametral bore at the end thereof in the duct to enable a limited
flow over said nozzle tube when said open side portion is
completely exposed and completely not exposed in said duct, said
limited flow preventing condensation.
8. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said nozzle tube
includes a cap on said first end thereof to seal it, said cap
having a greater outer diameter than the diameter of said defined
diametral bore and having an abutment surface facing said
adjustment member which abuts said adjustment member to seal said
second gap and prevents the withdrawal of said nozzle tube from
said adjustment member.
9. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said nozzle tube
includes a nozzle collar on the end thereof away from the duct,
said nozzle collar and said adjustment member collar having facing
abutment surfaces which engage when said open side portion is
exposed to prevent said nozzle from being inserted further in said
duct.
10. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said nozzle tube
includes indicia on the end thereof away from the duct, said
indicia indicating the direction said open side portion is
facing.
11. The nozzle assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said base, said
adjustment member and said nozzle tube are constructed from
materials which conduct heat poorly and which are essentially
non-reactive with water.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In modern amusement parks, it has become common practice to air
condition or ventilate areas in which customers gather as they
await their turn for the particular attraction. Unfortunately
sometimes these assembly areas or lines must be outside the
confines of a building and in areas where the heat and humidity of
the environment make waiting in such lines uncomfortable or
irritating. To alleviate this problem means have been required
which provide a flow of cool air to such individuals so the
experience of the amusement park is a pleasurable one. It has been
found that it is not necessary to provide a cool total environment
for potential customers throughout their entire wait for an
amusement. Instead, if occasionally as the customers advance in the
line, they are provided a flow of cool refreshing air their
dispostion and overall impression of the attraction is
enhanced.
Ordinary air conditioning vents have proved impractical for such
applications since they are usually built to diffuse cold air
rather than to create a localized draft of cool air. Also, since it
is difficult to determine in advance where exactly the cool air is
going to flow and in many locations, the vent is relatively remote
from the customers, means have been required which can be adjusted
so the draft or flow can be directed by repeated trial and error.
In addition, water vapor tends to condense on conventional air
conditioning vents when they are used outside. If the vents are
located above the line, they rust and drip on the already hot and
uncomfortable customers creating an unfavorable impression.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present adjustable nozzle assembly has been designed to provide
all the features required of a nozzle assembly used primarily in
the out of doors to provide cool refreshing blasts of air to people
moving past a predetermined area which is otherwise hot and humid.
The assembly includes a base which attaches to the air conditioning
duct and which frictionally maintains the position of a spherical
member through which a nozzle tube passes. The nozzle tube includes
a side cutout. The tube is movable axially through the spherical
member to uncover the cutout therein, the more of the cutout being
exposed the more flow passing through the tube. By facing the
cutout in the proper direction, the flow through the duct can be
made to vary with the static or velocity pressure of the flow in
the duct. The connections between the base, the spherical member,
and the nozzle tube are of predetermined looseness so a flow of
dry, conditioned air surrounds components of the assembly to
prevent condensation and dripping. Also, the components of the
assembly are constructed from materials which conduct heat poorly
which also helps prevent condensation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide cool
refreshing air to specific locations in an exterior
environment.
Another object is to provide an adjustable nozzle assembly which
can direct a stream of air through a wide range of angles at
various volumes.
Another object is to provide a directable air conditioning nozzle
assembly which is economical to manufacture and install.
Another object is to provide an adjustable air conditioning nozzle
whose direction and rate of flow can be adjusted and maintained
while the nozzle is installed in an air conditioning duct.
Another object is to provide an air conditioning nozzle assembly
which can operate in a humid environment and not cause undesirable
condensation of water vapor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a nozzle
assembly for an air conditioning unit whose flow rate can be made
sensitive to either static or velocity flow within the duct.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after considering the following detailed
specification which discloses preferred embodiments of the present
invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a nozzle assembly constructed
according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken on line
2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in a
partially open condition directing flow at an angle; and
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in a
closed condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers,
number 10 in FIG. 1 denotes an adjustable nozzle assembly
constructed according to the present invention. The assembly 10 is
shown installed in an air conditioning duct 12 by means of its base
14. The base 14 is connected to the duct by inserting the assembly
10 through an opening 16 of proper size in the duct and then
attaching the base member 14 to the duct 12 by suitable means such
as the screws 18 shown. The base 14 which may be the two piece
construction 14a and 14b shown, includes a central flanged portion
20 whose flanges 22 and 24 include inner surfaces 26 and 28 which
define an interior spherical shape in which a spherical member 30
is retained. Friction members such as the felt pads 32 are attached
to surfaces 26 and 28 as shown in FIG. 2. The felt pads 32
frictionally engage the spherical member 30 and maintain a slight
air gap 34 between the spherical member 30 and the flange surfaces
26 and 28. The gap 34 allows a slight flow of cool, dry air
conditioned air from the duct 12 about the lower surface 36 of the
spherical member 30 to assist in preventing water vapor
condensation thereon. In addition, the base 14 and the spherical
member 30 are constructed from materials having relatively low heat
conductivities such as high impact styrene and rigid polyethylene
to also assist in preventing condensation.
A nozzle tube 38 is positioned in a diametral bore 40 through the
spherical member 30. The nozzle tube 38 has a cap 42 which seals
the inlet end 43 thereof and a collar 44 fixedly attached to the
opposite outlet end 45 of the nozzle tube 38. The collar 44 which
is slightly larger in outer diameter than the tube 38, fits about
the tube 38 to form the end of the nozzle portion thereof. The
outer diameter of the tube 38 is slightly smaller than the inner
diameter of the diametral bore 40 so that slight gaps 46 and 47 of
about a sixteenth of an inch are present about the tube 38 where it
is restrained by the spherical member 30. These gaps allow flow of
cool dry air about the tube 38 and like the gap 34, assist in
preventing condensation on the assembly 10. The nozzle tube 38 also
includes a side cutout 48 which extends just less than 180.degree.
about the upper portion thereof. The cutout 48 is the inlet to the
nozzle tube 38. By moving the tube 38 inward or outward with
respect to the spherical member 30, the amount of the cutout 48
exposed within the duct 12 can be varied to vary the flow of air
that passes through the nozzle assembly 10 from zero to full flow.
This is shown in FIG. 3 wherein the cutout is only partially
extending above the spherical member 30. When it is desired to turn
off all flow through the nozzle assembly 10, the nozzle tube 38 is
moved to the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the cutout 48 is
completely enclosed within the spherical member. The cap 42 is
slightly larger in diameter than the tube 38 and its bottom lip
surface 49 acts against the spherical member 30 to block the flow
that would normally pass through the gap 47. The surface 49 also
restricts the distance the nozzle tube can be moved away from the
duct 12.
The tube 38 is maintained in any desired position by means of a set
screw 50 which is mounted in a collar 51 fixedly attached to the
spherical member 30 through which the nozzle tube 38 passes.
Discontinuities such as ribs 52 can be included on the inner
surface of the collar 51 opposite the set screw 50 to assist in
maintaining the gap 46. The collar 51 also includes an abutment
surface 53 which contacts a facing abutment surface 54 on the
nozzle collar 44. The surfaces 53 and 54 restrict the distance the
nozzle tube 38 can be moved toward the duct 12 yet enable the
cutout 48 to be exposed fully. Like the base 14 and spherical
member 30, the tube 38, collars 51 and 54, and cap 42 are
constructed from non-corroding, poor heat conducting materials to
eliminate condensation and rust.
The flow through the nozzle assembly 10 can be made responsive to
the static and/or velocity pressure of the conditioned air in the
duct 12. By facing the cutout 48 into the direction of flow within
the duct 12, the nozzle assembly 10 is made responsive to velocity
pressure. Indicator means such as a bead 56 are provided on the
nozzle tube 38 in a position normally visible when the assembly 10
is installed in the duct 12 so that during installation or
adjustment it is possible to face the cutout 48 in the desired
direction.
The direction in which the nozzle tube 38 points is generally the
direction in which the blast of cool air will flow as shown by
arrow 58 and this is adjusted by rotating the spherical member 30
with respect to the base member 14, as shown by arrows 60, so the
outlet end 45 points in the desired direction. The felt pads 32
frictionally maintain the spherical member in the selected
position.
Thus there has been shown and described a novel adjustable nozzle
assembly which fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought
therefor. Many changes, alternations, other alterations, and
applications of the subject adjustable nozzle assembly will become
apparent after considering this specification and the accompanying
drawing. All such changes, modifications, variations, other uses
and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of
this invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is
limited only by the claims which follow.
* * * * *