Abstract
An air terminal device for a ventilation system includes a pressure box, with an inlet admitting supply air into the pressure box and outlet openings for admitting supply air out. The air terminal device further includes a cover plate to control and change the open area of the outlet openings. The outlet openings are in a wall of the pressure box forming an outlet surface of the pressure box. The cover plates are arranged to make contact with and slide relative the outlet surface while changing the open area of the outlet openings. The cover plate is located on the high pressure side of the outlet surface. The cover plate cooperates with the outlet surface such that there is at least one outlet opening or suction opening being partly or fully covered by the cover plate also when the air terminal device is set to maximum flow.
Claims
1. An air terminal device (1) for a ventilation system, including a Heating and Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, for a building, said air terminal device (1) comprising: a pressure box (2), provided with at least one inlet (3) for admitting supply air into the pressure box and a plurality of outlet openings (4) for admitting supply air out of the pressure box (2), and at least one cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) arranged to control and change an open area of a plurality of said outlet openings (4, 4a, 4b, 4′), wherein said plurality of outlet openings (4, 4a, 4b, 4′) are arranged on an outlet surface (5) of the pressure box (2), wherein said at least one cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is arranged to be in contact with and slide relative an outlet surface (5) while changing the open area of said outlet openings (4, 4a, 4b, 4′), wherein said at least one cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is located on a high pressure side of the outlet surface (5) and there is at least one of said outlet openings (4, 4a, 4b, 4′) being partly or fully covered by said at least one cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) also when the air terminal device (1) is set to maximum flow, and wherein one or several of the outlet openings (4′) are designed to have a larger area than the majority of the outlet openings (4) such that a portion of the outlet openings (4′) having a larger area are only partially covered when the air terminal device (1) is set to maximum flow.
2. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein there are one or several suction openings (4″) in the outlet surface (5) adjacent to the outlet openings (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d), said suction openings (4″) being designed to cooperate with said cover plate (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) such that said suction openings (4″) are fully covered when the air terminal device (1) is set to maximum flow.
3. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein, there are one or several suction openings (4″) in the outlet surface (5) adjacent to the outlet openings (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d), said suction openings (4″) being designed to cooperate with said cover plate (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) such that said suction openings (4″) are always fully covered by said cover plate (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d).
4. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein said cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is made of a thin sheet, having a thickness of 0.05 to 2.0 mm.
5. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 4 wherein said cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is made of a flexible sheet having a Young's modulus of 1 000 to 20 000 MPa.
6. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 4 wherein said cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is made of a polymer.
7. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 4 wherein said cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is made of a flexible sheet having a Young's modulus of 1 500 to 15 000 MPa.
8. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 4 wherein said cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is made of a flexible sheet having a Young's modulus between 2 000 and 10 000 MPa.
9. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein said cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) has a surface weight of less than 1 kg per square meter.
10. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein a first cover plate (6a) and a second cover plate (6b) are arranged to be in contact with and slide relative an outlet surface (5) while changing the open area of the outlet openings (4, 4′).
11. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 10 wherein the first cover plate (6a) and the second cover plate (6b) are arranged to be in contact with and slide relative each other while changing the open area of the outlet openings (4, 4′).
12. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of outlet openings (4, 4a, 4b, 4′) are arranged along one or several edges (7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) of the outlet surface (5).
13. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the open area of the outlet openings (4, 4′) are changed to be smaller by moving the cover plate (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) towards the edge or edges (7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) of the outlet surface (5) along which the outlet openings (4, 4′) are located.
14. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of outlet openings (4, 4a, 4b, 4′) are shaped as elongated slits.
15. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the outlet openings (4, 4a, 4b, 4′) are directed to a mixing chamber (8) where to a stream of air from the space to be ventilated is induced by the flow of the supply air through the outlet openings (4, 4a, 4b, 4′) such that the stream of supply air is mixed with room air.
16. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the air terminal (1) device is provided with an air temperature regulating device (9) in order to condition the air flowing through the air terminal device.
17. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein said cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is made of a thin sheet having a thickness between 0.10 and 1.0 mm.
18. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein said cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is made of a thin sheet having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 mm.
19. The air terminal device (1) according to claim 1 wherein said cover plate (6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) has a surface weight of less than 0.5 kg per square meter.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1A discloses an air terminal device designed as an induction unit comprising an air temperature conditioner
(2) FIG. 1B discloses an air terminal device designed as an induction unit without temperature conditioning
(3) FIG. 1C discloses an air terminal device designed as an air diffuser without air temperature conditioner or induction arrangement
(4) FIG. 2A discloses an outlet surface provided with ordinary outlet openings having the same length
(5) FIG. 2B discloses an outlet surface provided with a mix of ordinary outlet openings and longer outlet openings
(6) FIG. 3A discloses an outlet surface as in FIG. 2A provided with cover plates when the cover plates are controlled to be in an open position
(7) FIG. 3B discloses an outlet surface as in FIG. 2A provided with cover plates when the cover plates are controlled to be in a covering position
(8) FIG. 4A discloses a circular outlet surface provided with cover plates when the cover plates are controlled to be in an open position
(9) FIG. 4B discloses a circular outlet surface provided with cover plates when the cover plates are controlled to be in a closed position
(10) FIG. 5A discloses an outlet surface having elongated slots alternating its longitudinal extension to be aligned with or perpendicular to the linear motion of the cover plate when the cover plate is in an open position
(11) FIG. 5B discloses an outlet surface having elongated slots alternating its longitudinal extension to be aligned with or perpendicular to the linear motion of the cover plate when the cover plate is in a closed position
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(12) In FIG. 1A is disclosed an air terminal device 1 for delivering air to a space to be ventilated. The air terminal device 1 comprises a pressure box 2 connected to a supply air inlet 3 through which an air stream of supply air (F) enters. The supply air may for example be provided by a central Air handling Unit (AHU) (not shown) connected to the air terminal device via a ducting system. The pressure box 2 further comprises a multitude of outlet openings 4 located in an outlet surface 5 in the pressure box for delivering a flow of supply air (F) from the pressure box 2 to a mixing chamber 8. The outlet openings are located along a first edge 7a of the outlet surface 5 and a third edge 7c. The outlet surface 5 and the outlet openings 4, 4′ along the first and third edge 7a, 7c will be shown in detail in FIG. 2. When the supply air flows into the mixing chamber 8 it will induce a flow I from the space where the air terminal unit 1 is located. The induced air flow I will flow via an air temperature conditioner 9, e.g. a heat exchanger having a liquid based heating media such as water for cooling or heating air passing through the heat exchanger. The induced flow I will mix with the supply air flow F in the mixing chamber 8 where after a mixed flow F+I will be admitted from the mixing chamber 8 via air terminal outlets 10 to the space to be ventilated. Hence, the air terminal device 1 in FIG. 1 is designed as a cooling beam or comfort cassette for heating or cooling of air to be admitted from the air terminal device 1 to a room.
(13) In FIG. 1b is disclosed a similar device but with the difference no air temperature conditioner 9 is included. Hence, this device works as an induction unit without any temperature conditioning. The induced air flow from the space to be ventilated will however help to improve the mixing of the air in the space and thus cause a better temperature profile in the room and reduce hot or cold streams arising from the air terminal device.
(14) In FIG. 1c is disclosed still an alternative air terminal unit 1 without air temperature conditioner or induction arrangement and thus will function as an ordinary air diffuser providing air to a room.
(15) In FIG. 2A-B are disclosed two different configurations of outlet openings 4 in a square shaped outlet surfaces 5. In both FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b are there a multitude of outlet openings 4 along the first edge 7a, the second edge 7b, the third edge 7c and the fourth edge 7d. The outlet openings 4 are designed as elongated slits or slots having a longitudinal extension perpendicular to the extension of the edges 7a-d closest to the outlet openings.
(16) The configurations in FIG. 2A and 2B differ in that in FIG. 2B are there some outlet openings 4′ which are longer, and thus larger, than the ordinary outlet openings 4. However, in FIG. 2A are disclosed suction openings 4″. The purpose of the outlet openings 4 in FIG. 2B and the suction openings in FIG. 2A are essentially the same. By the arrangement in FIG. 2B it is facilitated to have some outlet openings which are only partly open also when the cover plates (not shown, see FIG. 3) are set to maximum flow in order to keep the cover plate tight against the outlet surface 5 provided a cover plate is located on the high pressure side, i.e. inside the pressure box (see FIG. 1). In FIG. 2A, the suction openings 4″ are arranged to cooperate with a cover plate such that the suction openings 4″ are covered by cover plates (se arrangement in FIG. 3) in order to cause the cover plates to be positioned tight against the outlet surface 5 close to the outlet openings 4 when the cover plate is positioned to allow maximum flow. In general the suction openings 4″ cooperate with one or several cover plates such that the suction openings are always covered by a cover plate. The suction openings 4″ and the prolonged outlet openings 4′ thus serves the purpose of keeping a cover plate tight against the outlet surface 5 due to the pressure difference over the wall of a pressure box comprising the outlet surface 5. In general, it is of particular interest to provide the attractive force striving to keep a cover plate, located on the high pressure side, tight against the outlet surface 5 in the vicinity of the outlet openings 4, 4′ in order to avoid leakage, in particular when the cover plate is controlled to provide a high volume flow from the air terminal device 1. At high volume flows, there is normally only a small area of the outlet openings which are covered and thus contributes to force the cover plate to be positioned tight against the outlet surface. The outlet surfaces in FIGS. 2a and 2b could suitably be used for the air terminal devices in FIG. 1.
(17) In FIG. 3 is disclosed an outlet surface 5 having basically the same design as the outlet surface in FIG. 2A with a number of prolonged outlet openings 4′. The device in FIG. 3 has been provided with a first cover plate 6a and a second cover plate 6b. The outlet surface 5 has further been provided with a first actuating rod 11 attached to the first cover plate 6a at its first end 11 a and attached to the second cover plate 6b at its second end 11b and having a pivotal point 11c at the middle of the first rod 11 being attached to the outlet surface 5. Furthermore, the outlet surface 5 has also been provided with a second actuating rod 12 attached to the first cover plate 6a at its first end 12a and attached to the second cover plate 6b at its second end 12b and having a pivotal point 12c attached at the centre of the first rod 11 to the outlet surface 5.
(18) In FIG. 3A the cover plates 6a, 6b are controlled to be in an open position and thus keeping the ordinary outlet openings 4 completely open. In this position is thus intended that a maximum flow is allowed to flow through the outlet openings 4. However, the prolonged outlet openings 4′ are partly covered by the cover plates 6a, 6b also when the cover plates 6a, 6b are set to maximum flow.
(19) In FIG. 3B are the cover plates 6a, 6b controlled to be in a covering position and thus completely covering the ordinary outlet openings 4 as well as the prolonged outlet openings 4′. In this position is thus intended that no air should flow through the outlet openings 4, 4′.
(20) The position in FIG. 3A is switched by turning the actuating rods 11, 12 about 40-50 degrees counter clockwise. The actuating rods 11, 12 will thus cause the cover plates 6a, 6b to move in different directions by a rotating movement. As can be understood by the positioning of the rods in FIG. 3A respectively FIG. 3B will the plates, when changing from the position in FIG. 3A to the position in FIG. 3B, first move more in the lateral direction, i.e. changing its distance relative the lateral edges 7a, 7c while at the end of the transition move increasingly in a straight direction, i.e. changing its distance relative the other edges 7b, 7d. However, by designing the rotational movement adequately it may be possible to provide an almost uniform motion. In order to return to from the closed position in FIG. 3B are the actuating rods 11, 12 turned back, clockwise, the same degrees (40 to 50 degrees). An actuator causing a rotational movement may thus be connected to either of the actuating rods 11, 12 in order to provide a rotation, e.g. to the first actuating rod. The other actuating rod, e.g. the second actuating rod, will thus be forced to turn around its pivotal point 12c due to its attachment to the cover plates 6a, 6b at its ends 12a, 12b. The second actuating rod 12 will functions as a guiding member in order to assure the cover plates 6a, 6b will move as desired.
(21) FIG. 4 only schematically discloses how the same principle as described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 may apply to a circular geometry. In this case, the outlet surface 5 has been provided with ordinary outlet openings 4 as well as prolonged outlet openings 4′ and suction openings 4″. As the outlet surface 5 is set to cooperate with the cover plates 6a, 6b, 6c 6d to provide maximum flow, which is disclosed in FIG. 4A, are the prolonged outlet openings 4′ partly covered by the cover plates 6a, 6b, 6c 6d and the suction openings 4″ are completely covered by the cover plates 6a, 6b, 6c 6d. In FIG. 4B, the cover plates 6a, 6b, 6c 6d has rotated so as to completely cover all the outlet openings 4, 4′ as well as the suction openings 4″. To be noted, the cover plates 6a, 6b, 6c 6d have rotated clockwise one quarter turn while moving towards the edge of the outlet surface 5 such that the first cover plate 6a, being on the left side in FIG. 5A, has moved to be at the upper position, close to the edge of the outlet surface 5, in FIG. 4B.
(22) In FIG. 5 is disclosed still another embodiment of how an outlet surface 5 may be designed to cooperate with a cover plate 6. The outlet surface 5 is provided with outlet openings 4a, 4b in the shape of elongated slots being alternating designed to have an longitudinal extension either aligned with the linear direction of motion of the cover plate 6 (outlet openings denoted 4a) or being perpendicular to the linear motion of the cover plate (outlet openings denoted 4b). The perpendicular outlet openings 4b are designed to cooperate with cover plate openings 61 such that they are either forming a cross shaped partly overlapping position when the outlet surface 5 is set to cooperate with the cover plate 6 to provide maximum flow, as disclosed in FIG. 5A, wherein both ends of the perpendicular outlet openings 4b being covered at both ends by the cover plate 6 and thus will provide a force aiming to hold the cover plate 6 tight against the outlet surface 5. In this position, the aligned outlet openings 4a are arranged to cooperate with the cover plate openings 61 so as to completely overlap. In FIG. 5b is disclosed how the cover plate 6 has changed its position such that the cover plate 5 completely covers both the aligned outlet openings 4a as well as the perpendicular outlet openings 4b in order to completely shut of the flow of air through the outlet openings 4a, 4b.
(23) The arrangements described in FIG. 5 could either be used at the edges of the outlet surfaces in FIGS. 2 and 3 using a linear movement of one or several cover plates. It would also be possible to cover essentially the complete plate of the outlet surfaces in FIGS. 2 and 3 with elongated slots being a mix of outlet openings being aligned, and adapted to completely overlap, with elongated cover plate openings and elongated cover plate openings being perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the outlet openings in the outlet surface.
(24) The same pattern of cover plate openings and outlet openings could also be applied to the circular device in FIG. 4. Similar basic principle, with elongated slots along the circular edge, could also suitable be used for the device in FIG. 4 but in that instance it would most probably be more suitable to use a rotational movement of the cover plate. In case there is a desire to have a precise overlap for the aligned cover plate openings and the outlet openings in the circular outlet surface for a rotational motion, the slots could be adapted to be arc shaped.
(25) When cover plate openings are used to cooperate with outlet openings it may be possible to design the cover plate openings such that they are somewhat smaller than the outlet openings thus causing a portion of the cover plate always covering the outlet openings, e.g. having a multitude of elongated outlet openings being somewhat longer and/or wider than the cover plate openings.
(26) In FIGS. 3 to 5, only the end positions are disclosed. The number of intermediate positions depends on the actuator; if the actuator is analogue there may be an endless number of intermediate positions thus allowing the cover plates 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d to change the flow of air through the outlet surface by step less motion. In case the actuator is moved stepwise, it may have predefined positions with a known configuration of the coverage of the outlet openings such that an air flow may be calculated from these known positions and a pressure difference between the pressure box and the outside pressure.
