AU710042B2

AU710042B2 - Air diffuser

Info

Publication number: AU710042B2
Application number: AU14963/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Victor John Smith
Original assignee: NORDIN ENGINEERED AIR TECHNOLO
Current assignee: NORDIN ENGINEERED AIR TECHNOLOGIES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1996-02-27
Filing date: 1997-02-27
Publication date: 1999-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-27
Also published as: AU1496397A

Description

This invention relates to an air diffuser for diffusing conditioned air expelled from the end of a duct into a room.

Air diffusers are commonly used at the termination of air conditioning ducting where air which is generally heated or cooled is to be distributed within a room. Such diffusers change the direction of airflow from the direction taken within the ducting, which is generally normal to the surface of a ceiling, to a direction lateral thereto so that the air spreads out after passing through the diffuser. The change in direction is achieved by a number of vanes which are positioned to achieve the desired distribution.

One type of construction of diffuser has vanes in the form of concentrically disposed annular vanes. In general use such concentric vanes are fixed so that distribution of air in only one set direction can be achieved. This has limitations under circumstances where i different requirements are to be met by the diffuser at different times. Some diffusers with configuration of vanes other than concentric, however do allow for variation in the way air is directed, either by permitting removal and relocation of a panel of vanes within a support frame, or by providing for individually pivotable vanes.

Air distribution ducting generally emanates from one air conditioning unit and is distributed throughout a building with several different outlets positioned to distribute air from one or more locations. It is however not always desirable to have air distributed at the same time from all of the outlets so that usually in addition to the diffusers that are S. provided at each of the outlet positions several dampers are also strategically positioned within the ducting which can be used to shut off or to regulate the flow to one or more of the diffusers. A number of suggestion have been made of devices that incorporate i •dampers within the diffuser to minimise the components that are required to be fixed to the 25 ducting.

Generally for buildings it is desirable to provide, at certain times, heated air and at other times refrigerated air. It is highly desirable to use the same ducting and outlets. Often there is limited ceiling space to fit the ducting, additionally increasing the number of air conditioning outlets results in unsightliness and furthermore the provision of separate ducting and/or outlets would be an additional expense.

The difficulty is, however, that cooled air and heated air have different characteristics.

Thus it is undesirable to have cold air directed substantially downwardly from a ceiling with a slight lateral airflow component. Firstly, as is well known, a mass of cold air will fall relative to a mass of warmer air and accordingly such air will not be evenly distributed when there is minimal lateral air flow component. It is far more desirable to have such air distributed with a high degree of lateral air flow component, so that the cold air will, for example, travel along the ceiling for a distance so as to fall over a wide area. To facilitate a large degree of lateral air flow component it is desirable that the vane or vanes directing such air flow are somewhat beneath the ceiling surface.

Additionally with cold air and especially with temperatures such as might be achieved by a refrigerative air conditioning unit the localised nature of air directed mostly downwards can be most uncomfortable because such air may be at a very much lower than ambient temperature; such temperatures can be lower than 160C. Considerable discomfort will be caused should such an air stream come in contact with an individual over any extended time period.

On the other hand heated air has a tendency to rise and should the same distribution of air be given to heated air as opposed to cooled air, the distribution again will have a tendency to be poor, with heated air building up at ceiling level and air within the room becoming stratified; hot air building up near the ceiling and relatively cool air remaining down low.

15 Whilst it is not desirable to distribute heated air directly downward in a thin stream it is desirable to direct such air at a lesser angle than cold air.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an air diffuser useful for cooled and heated air that obviates or minimises any one of the above problems or at "least provides the public with a useful choice.

The nearest known prior art is US Patent No. 2,616,355 to McCabe et al. This document discloses a superficially similar air diffusers which utilises a similar vane inter connecting arrangement. However, that document is silent in respect to selected variation in the angle of air diversion herein disclosed. Accordingly, McCabe does not teach an air diffuser which can be used effectively and flexibly for the diffusion of warm or cool air.

In a broad form but not necessarily the broadest or only form the invention could be said to reside in an air diffuser including: a plurality of substantially concentric nested vanes, each of the vanes including an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end of each vane including a flange angled with respect to the direction of airflow at the inlet end to direct air laterally from said diffuser, the flange of a vane being angled differently than the flange of another vane, and the flange of each consecutive vane from innermost to outermost overlapping the flange of an adjacent outer vane; a frame within which the vanes are substantially concentrically nested; the frame and the outermost vane being interlinked by first interlinking means so as to permit independent relative axial movement of the outermost vane relative to the frame; each vane being interlinked with adjacent vanes by second interlinking means so as to permit independent relative axial movement of one vane relative to an adjacent vane; the frame and the vanes being adapted that in a first configuration the vanes are axially spaced from the frame to provide a concentric passageway between the outermost vane and the frame and at least two other concentric passageways between adjacent vanes of the vanes, and that in a second configuration the vanes are substantially not axially spaced from te frame and adjacent vanes are abutuing thereby closing the passageways; the diffuser being adapted that when the frame and vanes are in the first configuration air distributed from a passageway has less lateral air flow component imparted than air 15 distributed by another of said passageways.

In one preferred form the flange of an outer vane is more angled than the flange of an inner vane, and the diffuser is adapted that when the frame and vanes are in the first configuration air distributed from an innermost passageway has less lateral air flow component imparted than air distributed by an outermost of said passageways.

In another preferred form, each flange of an outer vane is more angled than the flange of "the adjacent inner vane. Whilst in this preferrned form each outer vane directs air more divergent than an adjacent inner vane, it will be appreciated that in other preferred forms this need not occur. In other preferred forms, it might be desirable, for example, to group 25 adjacent vanes in pairs with the same flange angle and where outer pairs have a greater o• flange angle than an inner pair. Likewise, other groupings of adjacent vanes with the same flange angle might be desired with an outer grouping having an greater flange angle.

This then permits a good degree of control over the quality and quantity of air passing through the diffuser. The entire diffuser can be closed off with all of the passageways closed off. Alternatively it also permits selective shutting down of the some but not all of the passageways.

For example, where it is desired to have cold air passed into the room, the innermost passageway can be closed, at least partially, so that cold air is not directed in concentrated form downwardly, it is far more desirable to distribute such cold air widely so that it can sink downwardly and have a greater lateral distribution. On the other hand where it is desired to have heated air distributed it is preferable to direct the air more downwardly because as is well known such air has a tendency rise above cold air and the outer air passageway can be closed.

In one preferred form the vanes and frame are annular. In preference the frame and the vanes are generally circular in shape. Whilst not limiting the invention it will be appreciated that circular annular vanes and frame is generally a convenient form of the diffuser. However, other annular shapes can be used as desired.

In a further preferred form, the frame has a flange proximal to the flange of the outermost vane. This flange can be used as a cover flange for decorous effect and also as part of the mechanism to guide air flowing between the frame and the outermost vane.

Preferably, when open, the vanes, when in the first configuration, extend beyond a plane on which the diffuser is mounted so as to extend the degree to which air can be diffused laterally. Where the diffuser is mounted on a ceiling the vanes will extend below the ceiling.

15 In a preferred form the first interlocking means, comprises at least one guide on the peripherally of the inlet end of either the outermost vane or the frame and at least one runner on the periphery of the inlet end of either the frame or the outermost vane respectively adapted so that the runner or runners transverse the guide or guides. As will be appreciated the runner or runners can be on the frame and the guide or guides on the outermost vane, or vice versa. Further, the outermost vane and the frame may both have respective runners and guides.

In a preferred form the second interlocking means, for each vane, comprises at least one guide on the peripherally of the inlet end of the vane adapted to guide a runner of an S2 adjacent vane, and at least one runner on the periphery of the inlet end adapted to 25 transverse a guide of an adjacent vane. It will be appreciated that the guides can be on the outer vane and the runners on the inner vane of adjacent vanes, or vice versa. Further, should it be desired, adjacent vanes can have interacting respective guides and runners on both adjacent vanes.

The interlinking means may take a number of forms, however, for convenience of manufacture the interlinking means may comprise at least three posts, runners, extending laterally from one of said vanes through channels, guides, in the inlet end of an adjacent vane and preferably the channels are open in the direction of the inlet end of the vanes.

Preferably in this form the inlet end of each of the vanes are generally in line with the direction of airflow at the inlet of the diffuser so that all the channels are axially parallel.

Preferably the channels each include at least two lands whereupon a respective post can be stably maintained. When a respective post is maintained on the first land the passageway therebetween is closed and when the posts registers in the second of the two lands the passageway is in the open position. It may also be desired to provide more than two lands whereby the passageway may be only partially opened so that one or more partial open positions of the passageways can be assumed.

The provision of a partially open position may be particularly useful for outer passageways, whether being the outermost passageway or other passageways adjacent thereto. It will be readily appreciated that the volume of air passing through the outer passageways, given an equal or nearly equal distance between the vanes, will be higher than for air passageways radially inwardly therefrom and it may be desired to have greater control over the volume of air passing therethrough.

It may also be desired to have spacers associated with each post for bearing against an S adjacent one of the vanes to maintain the vanes generally concentric.

:.11 -15 It is preferable that the concentric vanes are generally circular in shape, and the channel is :i generally circumferential positioned on said vane and angled somewhat relative to the direction of airflow so that relative rotation the two adjacent vanes will result in a change in the extent to which the air passageway therebetween is open.

Preferably each of the interlinking means has a stop at the closed position and each of the channels and posts arranged such that the same direction of rotation of any one vane relative to either an outer or inner vane will cause the same axial movement in the respective adjacent inner or outer vane; so that rotational force from a central portion of the diffuser will progressively shut air passageways from the innermost to the outermost vane.

It may also be desired to include a finger grip on one or more of the vanes which is 25 accessible from an outside of the diffuser to facilitate manipulation of the vanes.

However, it will be appreciated that because each of the vanes are interlinked independently it is possible to shut any one of the channels independently of the other.

The flanges of the vanes are preferably at an outermost portion of the diffuser, and accordingly each of the vanes moves outwardly relative to a respective adjacent vane in order that the channel therebetween is to open.

In a preferred form the lands include detent means to releaseably hold a runner within the respective lands. It is preferred that the detents release a runner under a force relatively easily exerted by a person's hand. The detents are intended to hold the runners against movement under the normal operational conditions so permitting settings to be maintained without frequent checks been made. Obviously, should it be desired a more resilient locking arrangement can be used.

In an alternative form, the invention may be said to reside, not necessarily in the broadest or only form, in an air diffuser including: a frame; a plurality of nested concentric and interlinked annular vanes which are nested and concentric within the frame, each vane having a flange at an outlet end with the flange of an outer vane being angled greater than the angle of the flange of an inner vane and thereby an outer vane is adapted to direct air flowing through the air o, 10 diffuser more laterally than an inner vane; and, the air diffuser being of configuration and adaptation: o to permit independent selective axial displacement of the vanes relative to any other vane or the frame thereby being adapted to open or close a number of air passageways such that none, one or more passageways are open at any time; 15 that in a first configuration adapted for directing cool air there is only an open passageway between the outermost vane and the frame; that in a second configuration adapted for directing warm air there is only an open passageway between the innermost vanes; and, *o o° such that when in use in the first vane configuration air passing through the air diffuser can be more laterally directed than air passing through the diffuser when in the second vane configuration.

For a better understanding, the invention will now be described with reference to an illustrated embodiment wherein, Figure 1 is a sketched view of a cross section taken diametrically through the illustrated embodiment wherein all of the air passageways are in an open position, Figure 2 is a sketched view of the same cross section as figure 1, except that all of the air passageways are closed, and pFigure 3 is a partial perspective showing details of one of the interlinking 3 0 means between two adjacent vanes.

7a It will be understood that the illustrations of the invention are simply approximate sketches.

The illustrated diffuser comprises four annular vanes 2, 3 and 4) which are positioned concentrically to define between adjacent pairs of vanes, three respective air passageways 6 and Each of the vanes includes an inlet end and a flange at an outlet end; the flange is angled away from the direction of airflow at the inlet end to direct air laterally away from the diffuser. Air passing through the innermost air passageway is imparted with less of a lateral airflow component than air passing through an outermost air passageway Each of the flanges overlaps radially with an adjacent flange, and each vane is interlinked with adjacent vanes by interlinking means (10) so as to permit independent relative axial movement of one air vane relative o an adjacentC vane between an :i tii tl o 8 open position shown in Figure 1 with respective adjacent vanes axially spaced apart, and a closed position shown in Figure 2 with respective adjacent vanes abutting.

The inlet end of each of the vanes is shown as being vertical on the drawings, and the outlet end of the vanes are angled relative thereto. A spacer extends from an inner one of each pair of adjacent vanes, being fastened at an inner edge (11) to the outer surface of the inner of the pair of vanes. The outer edge (12) of the spacer is positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the inner end of the outer of the pair of adjacent vanes. There are three such spacers between each adjacent pairs of vanes (only one is shown in the illustrations in each case), so that all the vanes are maintained in their concentric configuration.

Extending outwardly from each of the spacers is a post (13) each post is positioned to pass through a channel (14) of the outer of the pair of adjacent vanes. The configuration of one such channel can be seen best in Figure 3. Where the diffuser is suspended from a ceiling the weight of the inner of each pair of vanes is supported by the posts on the outer of the pair of vanes. Where the post is located on the first land (15) of the channel as seen in Figure 3, the air passageway between vanes and is open. If the inner of the pair of vanes is rotated in the direction of arrow (16) it moves axially upwards commensurate with the slope of the channel. The post may be rotated to rest of a second land (17) so that S"the air passageway is only partially open, or it may be rotated further so that it rests on the third land (18) in which case the air passageway is fully closed. It is to be 20 understood that provision for a land for partial opening may not be desired for all air passageways The channel ends with a vertical wall (19) adjacent the first land which acts as a stop for the post, and limits the extent of relative rotation of the two adjacent vanes, and similarly a smaller second vertical wall (20) adjacent the third land also acts as a stop. It will be realised that where the inner of the vanes is rotated in either direction, it will do so until it bears against one or other of the stops of the adjacent vane, and will then engage with the adjacent vane to rotate the adjacent vane relative to a further adjacent vane. It will be understood that in that way all the vanes can be closed by rotation of only one of the vanes. Additionally it will be understood that by rotating vane relative to vane that air passageways can be either opened or closed without affecting the adjacent air passageways (5 and 7).

It will also be understood that other interlinking means may be provided, for example the channel may be an entirely closed slot within a channel. Additionally whilst rotation of the vanes provides for a simple mechanism for adjustment, the relative movement of the vanes may be limited to axial movement so that a channel in which a post is guided may simply have an axial component with, for example, a relatively soft snap lock, or an interference fit, provided within the channel to lock the post in either the open or the shut position.

This may be desired where the vanes take on an annular shape other than circular where relative rotation would lead to an aesthetically undesirable appearance.

It can be seen that the all the vanes except the inner most vane have annular wall at the inlet end substantially in line with the direction of flow through the direction of the ducting shown in dotted outline at This facilitates with formation of the respective post engaging channels.

It will be appreciated that the diffuser is preferably made of a plastics material.

Whilst this specification has discussed in some detail the application of this invention to air conditioning ducting that is attached to a ceiling, it will be appreciated that the diffuser may also be useful for application in other position °o e• i:.

9 9.

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:- 1. An air diffuser including: a plurality of substantially concentric nested vanes, each of the vanes including an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end of each vane including a flange angled with respect to the direction of airflow at the inlet end to direct air laterally from said diffuser, the flange of a vane being angled differently than the flange of another vane, and the flange of each consecutive vane from innermost to outermost overlapping the flange of an adjacent outer vane; a frame within which the vanes are substantially concentrically nested;

S.

10 the frame and the outermost vane being interlinked by first interlinking means so as to permit independent relative axial movement of the outermost vane relative to the •frame; each vane being interlinked with adjacent vanes by second interlinking means so as to permit independent relative axial movement of one vane relative to an adjacent vane; the frame and the vanes being adapted that in a first configuration the vanes are axially spaced from the frame to provide a concentric passageway between the outermost vane and the frame and at least two other concentric passageways between adjacent vanes of the vanes, and that in a second configuration the vanes are substantially not axially spaced from the frame and adjacent vanes are abutting thereby closing the passageways; the diffuser being adapted that when the frame and vanes are in the first configuration air distributed from a passageway has less lateral air flow component imparted than air distributed by another of said passageways.

2. An air diffuser as in claim 1 wherein the vanes and frame are annular.

3. An air diffuser as in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the frame and the vanes are generally circular in shape 4. An air diffuser as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame has a flange proximal to the flange of the outermost vane.

Claims

6. An air diffuser as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first interlocking means, comprises at least one guide on the peripherally of the inlet end of either the outermost vane or the frame and at least one runner on the periphery of the inlet end of either the frame or the outermost vane respectively adapted so that the runner or runners transverse the guide or guides.
7. An air diffuser as in claim 6 wherein the first interlocking means comprises at least three guides and at least three runners spaced about the inlet end of the frame and the outermost vane.
8. An air diffuser as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second :interlocking means, for each vane, comprises at least one guide on the peripherally of the °inlet end of the vane adapted to guide a runner of an adjacent vane, and at least one runner S 15 on the periphery of the inlet end adapted to transverse a guide of an adjacent vane.
9. An air diffuser as in claim 8 wherein the second interlocking means, for each vane, comprises at least three guides and at least three runners spaced about the inlet end of the vane. An air diffuser as in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the guide or each of the guides is an aperture within the inlet end of the vane and the runner or each of the runners S-is a post which project into the aperture or a respective one of the apertures.
11. An air diffuser as in claim 10 wherein the aperture or apertures extends through the vane.
12. An air diffuser as in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the guide or each of the guides is an axial profile of the periphery of the inlet end of the vane or frame.
13. An air diffuser as in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the guide or each of the guides is an edge proximal to the outlet end of the vane of a recess within the inlet end of the vane or frame.
14. An air diffuser as in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the guide or each of the guides is an edge proximal to the outlet end of the vane or frame of a peripherally projecting member. 12 An air diffuser as in any one of claims 6 to 14 wherein the guide or each of the guides has a slope portion transverse to the axis of the vane or frame adapted so that a twisting of one vane relative to an adjacent vane or frame effects relative axial displacement of the adjacent vanes or outermost vane and frame.
16. An air diffuser as in any one of claims 6 to 15 wherein the guide or each of the guides include at least two lands within which a runner can stably maintained adapted so that thereby adjacent vanes or outermost vane and frame can be arranged in at least two axially spaced positions so that a passageway therebetween is close or open.
17. An air diffuser as in claim 16 including at least one further land whereupon a respective runner can be stably maintained thereby adjacent vanes or the frame and the outermost vane can be arranged in at least three axially spaced positions so that a passageway therebetween is close, open or partially open.
18. An air diffuser as in either claim 16 or 17 wherein the lands include detent means to releaseably hold a runner within the respective lands.
19. An air diffuser as in any one of the claim 6 to 18 wherein each of the interlinking means, first and second, has a stop at the closed position and each of the guides and runners are arranged and adapted such that the same direction of rotation of any one vane relative to either an outer or inner vane will cause axial movement in the respective adjacent inner or outer vane. *l 0
20. An air diffuser as in claim 19 adapted so that rotational force from a central portion the diffuser will progressively shut air passageways from the innermost to the outermost vane.
21. An air diffuser as in any one of the preceding claims including a finger grip on one or more of the vanes which is accessible from outside of the diffuser to facilitate manipulation of the vanes.
22. An air diffuser as in any one of the preceding claims including spacers for bearing against an adjacent one of the vanes to maintain the vanes generally concentric.
23. An air diffuser as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flange of an outer vane is more angled than the flange of an inner vane, and the diffuser being adapted that when the framne and vanes are in the first configuration air distributed from an innermost passageway has less lateral air flow component imparted than air distributed by an outermost of said passageways. 13
24. An air diffuser as in any one of the preceding claims wherein each flange of an outer vane is more angled than the flange of the adjacent inner vane. An air diffuser including: a frame; a plurality of nested concentric and interlinked annular vanes which are nested and concentric within the frame, each vane having a flange at an outlet end with the flange of an outer vane being angled greater than the angle of the flange of an inner vane and thereby an outer vane is adapted to direct air flowing through the air diffuser more laterally than an inner vane; and, 10 the air diffuser being of configuration and adaptation: to permit independent selective axial displacement of the vanes relative to any other vane or the frame thereby being adapted to open or close a number of air passageways such that none, one or more passageways are open at any time; that in a first configuration adapted for directing cool air there is only an open passageway between the outermost vane and the frame; that in a second configuration adapted for directing warm air there is only an open passageway between the innermost vanes; and, such that when in use in the first vane configuration air passing through the air diffuser can be more laterally directed than air passing through the diffuser when in the second vane configuration.
26. An air diffuser substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this ist dayof July 1999 NORDIN ENGINEERED AIR TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys, A. P. T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 14 ABSTRACT Disclosed is an air diffuser comprising a plurality of annular vanes concentrically nested within an annular frame. The vanes and frames have overlapping flanges. The vanes and the frame are interlinked to permit independent selective axial movement between a closed position where adjacent flanges abut and an open position where concentric air passageways are formed between adjacent vanes and frame. The vanes may also have one or more intermediate positions where the air passageways are partly closed. The arrangement provides for control of the open state of the air passageways independent of each other. The flanges of outer vanes and the frame are more angled than those of inner vanes so as to direct air passing through the air passage ways more laterally. With the diffuser mounted in a ceiling cool air can be directed more divergently whereas warm air can be directed downward. This improves air distribution. S.o _4 *o o