FR2623886A1 - Air-flow distribution device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an air-flow distribution device. The device includes, in association with an air conduit emerging into a stabilising chamber, on the latter, a set of plates comprising a plate forming a diffuser 1, which is provided with a plurality of cells 4 each including a lateral orifice 5, a plane angular deflecting plate 11 provided with a plurality of orifices 12 which are in communication with the orifices 5 of the cells 4 of the plate 1 but which are not placed in correspondence with a horizontal projection of the said orifices, so as to distribute the air in a manner substantially parallel to the base of this distribution device; the latter furthermore includes a plate 19 forming a damper, this plate being provided with orifices 20 and serving to control the volume of the air flow passing through the said orifices. Application to the field of air conditioning.

Description

 The present invention relates to a positive device for air distribution comprising a honeycomb diffuser plate, in which the cells, or hollow parts, are provided with small orifices. The air pockets provide greater lateral air distribution, which results in more efficient, larger and more uniform air distribution.

 There are known devices for regulating and directing the flow of air from a duct and passing in front of an air diffusion device.

However, these devices generally do not ensure the lateral diffusion of the air or else do not carry out such an operation in the manner which is envisaged in accordance with the present invention. For example, the patent
US 4,407,187, issued to Horney describes an air distribution device comprising a recessed distribution plate and a front plate provided with a plurality of orifices. The holes in the front plate are directed outward and downward. however, the device does not ensure the lateral distribution of air and the air is deflected above the narrow zone defined by the orientation of the orifices outwards and downwards.

 U.S. Patent No. 3,818,815 issued to Day describes an air diffuser unit having overlapping perforated register plates and a perforated front plate. The register plates are movable relative to each other and are used to control the air volume and the air distribution patterns. However, this device cannot be easily adjusted to establish air flow in one direction or in multiple directions. The device is also relatively complicated in comparison with the simple structure of the present invention.

 U.S. Patent 2,909,112 issued to Yousoufian relates to an air distribution device provided with a front plate in which two sets of louvers are formed in four quadrants of the front plate. The louver shutters can be positioned to direct the air flow in a lateral direction. However, the use of such a device does not allow an efficient distribution of air to be obtained, since an air flow coming from a quadrant is brought into collision with an air flow coming from a 'a second quadrant.

 U.S. Patent 2,640,412 issued to Sweger describes the use of air baffles which are positioned on a grid so as to deflect or direct an air flow in a desired direction. The shutters placed in a closed position are perpendicular to the air flow which leaves the air duct.

The flaps are opened under the effect of an axial pressure exerted on them in an eccentric place of the shutter. This action causes the shutter to move from the perpendicular position ensuring air deflection. The shutters can also rotate. However, such a structure does not produce a lateral deflection of the air flow, which would serve to direct the air into a much larger area.

 The American recovery patent No. 26 723 issued to Averill describes an air deflector composed of four rectangular quadrants each comprising webs and air distribution orifices. An air flow appears to be discharged laterally with respect to the axis of the diffuser, but the structure is again relatively complicated compared to the simple structure of this invention.

 The object of this invention relates to an air distribution device composed of a plate forming an air diffuser, an angular deflection plate, a register and a stabilizing chamber.

The upper face of the diffuser plate is connected to the outlet end of a stabilizing chamber and the inlet of the stabilizing chamber is connected to an air duct. The angular deflection plate is located above the diffuser plate. The base of the air diffuser plate has a series of recesses, or recessed portions, and the recesses are provided with small elliptical orifices which are placed in their side. The angular deflection plate of the device is planar on its two faces and it is provided with a plurality of orifices. These orifices are generally coincident with the orifices of the cells.

The register plate is also provided with a plurality of holes. To obtain a maximum quantity of air flowing through the device in the direction of a closed room or other volume, the orifices of the register plate are aligned or else coincide with the orifices of the deflection plate angle and the elliptical orifices of the diffuser plate. When it is desirable or necessary to reduce the amount of flowing air, the register plate is moved by sliding relative to the angular deflection plate so that its orifices are only partially coincident with the orifices of the angular deflection plate or else completely coincident with a part of the orifices of the angular deflection plate and completely in the absence of coincidence with the remaining part of the orifices of the angular deflection plate. To completely stop the air flow, the orifices of the damper are moved by sliding so as to completely remove their alignment with the orifices of the angular deflection plate.

 The elliptical orifices of the diffuser plate establish an air flow which is substantially parallel or lateral to the base of the stabilizing chamber. This lateral air flow makes it possible to obtain a more efficient distribution of the air because this air is distributed over a larger area than with conventional air flow devices. The cells of the diffuser can be made so as to be able to rotate relative to the angular deflection plate. Such a structure facilitates the adjustment of the direction of the air flow.

 It is therefore an object of this invention to create an air flow device which distributes air laterally with respect to a chamber from which the air flow originates.

 Another object of this invention is to create an air flow device of simple construction.

 Yet another object of this invention is to create a device which distributes air more efficiently towards a closed area.

 Yet another object of this invention is to create an air flow device in which the direction of air flow can be easily changed.

 Yet another object of this invention is to create a device for controlling a volume of air.

 Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device for establishing variable directional air flow patterns.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be highlighted, in the following description, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a bottom view of the air flow distribution device according to this invention, this figure showing the upper part of a diffuser plate, which is provided with cells having small holes;
Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, of a stabilizing chamber on which the diffuser plate is fixed;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a cell of the diffuser plate of the
Figure 1;;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a cell, taken along line 4-4-of Figure 2 and showing an angular deflection plate and a register, both of which are provided with orifices placed in coincidence with the cell hole;
Figure 5 is a similar sectional view of the cell, in which the orifices of the register plate are not in coincidence with the orifices of the angular deflection plate;
Figure 6 shows another embodiment of a cell which can rotate between the diffuser plate and the plane angular deflection plate;
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the device according to this invention, simultaneously showing open and closed cells;
Figures 8a and 8b show the air flow distribution device according to this invention, respectively in a fully open condition and in a partial open condition;
Figures 9a and 9b show the air flow distribution device of this invention, with a variable pattern of air flow direction;
Figure 10 shows the air flow distribution device of this invention with a cyclone pattern; and
Figure 11 shows the air flow distribution device of this invention with a different cyclone pattern.

 Figures 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the air diffuser device of this invention. With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the device of this invention is composed of a stabilizing chamber 6 comprising walls 10 which define a base 7.

On the base 7 of the stabilizing chamber 6 is fixed a stationary plate forming a diffuser 1, which is planar on its upper face 2 and which comprises cells 4 forming protrusions on its lower face 3. The cells have structures of the hemispherical type. A single cell forms a chamber 23 and is composed of a crown 14, which constitutes a rounded flat top, and inclined walls 15 which start from the end part of the crown 14 by forming a crown / wall interface 16, said inclined walls ending in a flat part of said diffuser plate 1, which forms a wall / plate interface 17. The cells do not have a perfect hemispherical shape because all the points of the sphere are not located at an equal distance from the center of the diameter of the cells. This difference is attributable to the crown 14, or flat top, of the cells. However, the alveoli are not limited to structures of this type and they could have square, rectangular or other spheroidal or circular shapes.

The cells have relatively small orifices 5 The expression "relatively small" simply means that the orifices cover an area smaller than a quarter of the entire cell 4, as shown in Figure 3. The orifices 5 are further defined as extending from the crown / wall interface 16 of the cell and ending in the wall / plate interface 17. The cells, the stabilizing chamber, the register plate and the deflection plate angular. are preferably made of such a metal but they could also be formed from a material such as glass, a plastic, plexiglass or the like. The cells are formed by stamping the metal sheet with a matrix. The number of cells and the area they cover on the front plate can be optimally determined by means of a computer. The cells can be made so that their openings are directed in one direction as indicated in the upper or lower right parts of the
Figure 1 or they can be positioned in a plurality of directions.

 The orifices 5 of the cells are orifices of elliptical shape. However, the invention is not limited to a device in which the edges of the cell orifices form a plane in which.

the sum of the distances from a fixed pair of points, i.e. the foci, is a given constant.

On the contrary, the orifices are described as having an elliptical shape owing to the fact that they are not perfect circles but it could be envisaged for such ve-loles that they comprise orifices of circular shape, orifices of true elliptical shape or other geometric shapes.

 I1 is provided to cover the plate forming a diffuser 1 an angular deflection plate 11.

This plate is planar on both sides and it has orifices 12, the number of which corresponds to that of the cells of the plate forming a diffuser. As shown in Figure 4, the orifices of the angular deflection plate 12 are generally coincident with the cells 4. However, a solid portion 13 of the angular deflection plate 11 is placed directly overhanging the orifices of the cells. This solid part 13 forces the flow of air to bypass it and prevents a flow of moving or forced air from passing through an orifice 5 of the cell and from flowing downwards. The angular deflection plate 11 is also stationary and it can be welded to the walls 10 of the stabilizing chamber or it can be fixed by appropriate means to the plate forming a diffuser 1.

 Above the angular deflection plate 11, which is stationary and planar, there is provided a means 19 forming a register. In general, the register 19 is flat and has orifices 20. The register can slide relative to the fixed plate forming a diffuser 1, to the angular deflection plate 11 and to the stabilizing chamber 6. The orifices'20 of the register 19 also coincide in number with the cells of the diffuser plate. The orifices in the register are spaced apart by a distance equal to the distance between the orifices in the angular deflection plate and have the same dimension. When the orifices of the angular deflection plate and the orifices of the register are in perfect coincidence with each other, as shown in Figure 4, a maximum amount of air is deflected around the solid part 13 overhanging the plate angular deflection 11 and it is channeled through the cells substantially parallel to the base 7 of the stabilizing chamber 6. When the damper is brought by sliding into the position indicated in Figure 5, the air flow towards the cells stopped.

However, the air flow is not limited to a maximum flow and to a zero flow, but it can be adjusted between a zero value and a maximum value by sliding the orifices of the register plate in positions. located between the extreme positions indicated in Figures 4 and 5. The register plate can be moved by sliding using means which are well known to specialists in this field.

 The solid part 13 of the angular deflection plate 11, which is arranged in overhang with respect to the small orifices of the cells, as well as the structure of the cells having relatively small orifices, as described above, ensure the deflection of a flow air which is substantially parallel to the base of the stabilizing chamber.

The expression "substantially parallel" refers to the angle formed by a flow of air passing through the orifices of the cell relative to the base of the stabilizing chamber. The angle thus formed is of the order of 80 to 900. This lateral deflection of the air causes air passing through the duct 9, fixed to the inlet 8 of the stabilizing chamber 8, to be distributed in a larger area of a room or enclosure in which the air distribution unit is installed.

The use of such a device can lead to energy savings or a reduction in the number of air distribution devices which are necessary for a room or another structure.

 A second embodiment of the invention relates to an air flow distribution device comprising rotating cells 104 which are provided with relatively small orifices 105. A device of this kind is similar to the device described above.

For example, the device comprises a stabilizing saturated chamber which is provided with walls which define a base. On the base of the stabilizing chamber is fixed a plate 101 forming an air diffuser and comprising cells 104. Above the diffuser plate 101 is disposed an angular deflection plate 111 and above this angular deflection plate a register 119 is arranged which can slide relative to the latter. The stabilizing chamber is connected to an air duct, which evacuates from this stabilizing chamber an air flow exiting through the orifices 105 of the cells 104.

 However, in this embodiment, the solid part 113 of the angular deflection plate 111 is located above a large part of the alveolus chamber 123. This is clearly demonstrated by a comparison of the position of the deflection plate angle 11 of Figure 4 with the position of the angular deflection plate 11 of Figure 6. A covering of the alveolus chamber 123 in this manner causes a forced air flow to pass around the solid part 113 of the angular deflection plate and is deflected laterally by the socket, even when this socket has been rotated 180 relative to its position shown in Figure 6.

 The rotating cells 104 are shown in FIG. 6. These cells are provided with a rounded flat crown or top 114. Inclined walls 115 start from the extreme part of the crown 114, forming a crown / wall interface 116. The walls , just before a termination end 121, have a curved portion 122 which is curved around the diffuser plate 101, creating a wall / curving interface 117. The termination ends 121 are flattened and cover the lower face 102 of the plate The angular deflection plate 111 is placed above the termination ends 121 and it is fixed on the stabilizing chamber or else on the diffuser plate so that the termination ends of the cells are held by friction between the angular deflection plate and the diffuser plate. No other means ensures the fixing of the termination ends and, consequently, a nonperpendicular force which is applied to the cells in an eccentric location relative to a top of a cell makes this cell rotate around its axis Z. The cells are prevented from sliding sideways by the wall / bend interface 117, which intrinsically prevents such movement. The relatively small orifices 105 allow the exit of a forced air flow from the cells. These small orifices have a section similar to that described in the first embodiment and they extend from the crown / wall interface 116 to at the wall / curving interface 117.

 A register plate 119 having orifices is slidably disposed above the angular deflection plate and it can be adjusted, as in the first embodiment, so as to produce an increase or a decrease in the volume of air to unload in a closed area. The rotary cells of this second embodiment can be adjusted so that their orifices are oriented in a certain number of directions or else in a single direction.

 Figures 7, 8a and 8b show an embodiment in which part of the holes made in the plate 19 forming a register are coincident with the holes made in the angular deflection plate 11 while there is no coincidence for another part of the holes. In this embodiment, it is possible to maintain sufficient air outlet speeds in order to establish correct circulation of the air in a room while simultaneously reducing the volume of the air.

 Figures 9a and 9b show another embodiment in which a variable pattern of air flow direction is established by the register plate 19 which is positioned so as to allow the passage of air through orifices oriented in a desired direction of discharge at a given point in the linear movement of the register plate 19.

 Figure 10 shows an embodiment in which the air circulation has a "cyclone" effect. The air is discharged tangentially to the radius of the cells of the diffuser plate either clockwise or counterclockwise. This effect can be further improved by adding an air return opening 224 to the center of the diffuser. This allows the hot air in return to go up in the heart of the "cyclone" and to leave the room towards the ventilator via a stabilizing chamber or a duct placed on the ceiling.

 The plate 19 forming a register can be used as a fire damper and / or a smoke stop register, either independently or in combination with all the arrangements and possibilities of use described above. The register plate 19 is actuated by conventional devices such as fuse triggers and smoke detectors.

 When an automatic temperature control is used for positioning the plate 19 forming a register and when the supply duct is used for heating and cooling, then a sequence defined by the English expression "Heating-Deadband-Cooling" (heating-dead band-cooling) is carried out in a single linear stroke by allowing the register plate 19 to continue its course in the same direction, after closing to stop the cooling, to then pass into a dead band and then into a reopening condition to ensure heating. When the room temperature increases, the reverse sequence is produced.

 Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown; it is susceptible of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art, depending on the applications envisaged and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (17)

1. Air flow distribution device, characterized in that it comprises:  - a stabilizing chamber (6) comprising an inlet and an outlet and walls (10) for channeling an air flow, said walls (10) forming a base (7) at said outlet;  a stationary plate (1) forming a diffuser, connected to said base (7) positioned above said outlet of said stabilizing chamber (6), said stationary plate (1) forming a diffuser comprising a plurality of cells (4), each of said cells being provided with a lateral orifice (5); and  - a flat angular deflection plate 11 comprising a plurality of orifices (12), positioned inside said stabilizing chamber (6) and above said plate (1) forming a diffuser, said plurality of orifices (12) said plate (11) being in communication with orifices (5) of said cells (4) of said stationary plate (1) forming a diffuser but not being placed above a horizontal projection of said orifices on said plate forming a diffuser so distributing the air substantially parallel to said base of said air flow distribution device. 2. An air flow distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that said cells (4) comprise a crown (14), inclined walls (15) starting from said crown (14) by forming a crown interface. / wall (16) and in that said walls (15) end in a flat part of said plate (1) forming a diffuser, forming a wall / plate interface (17). 3. An air flow distribution device according to claim 2, characterized in that said lateral orifice (5) provided in each of said cells (4) is a relatively small orifice extending from said crown / wall interface (16 ) up to said wall / plate interface (17). 4. An air flow distribution device according to claim 2, characterized in that all the aforesaid orifices (5) of said cells (4) are oriented in one direction. 5. An air flow distribution device according to claim 2, characterized in that said orifices (5) of said cells (4) are oriented in a plurality of directions. 6. An air flow distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that said lateral orifice (5) of each of said cells (4) is an orifice of elliptical shape. 7. An air flow distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a plate (19) slidably mounted and comprising a plurality of orifices (20) which may coincide with the orifices ( 12) of said planar angular deflection plate (11) and which is situated above said planar angular deviation plate (11). 8. An air flow distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that said diffuser plate (101) has orifices and each of said cells (104) has a circumferential flange rotatably mounted between said diffuser plate (101) and said planar angular deflection plate (111), said cells (104) extending through said orifices formed in said diffuser plate (101). 9. An air flow distribution device according to claim 8, characterized in that said cells (104) comprise a crown (114), an inclined wall (115) starting from said crown and forming a crown / wall interface ( 116), and in that said wall (115) has a curved portion forming a curvature / wall interface (117) so that a termination end (121) of said inclined wall (115) is curved above said diffuser plate (101) and said termination end (121) is flattened being disposed between said diffuser plate (101) and said planar angular deflection plate (111), so that said cells (104) can rotate relative to said diffuser plate (101). 10. An air flow distribution device according to claim 9, characterized in that said lateral orifices (105) of said cells (104) are relatively small orifices extending from said crown / wall interface (116) to said curving / wall interface (117). 11. Air flow distribution device, characterized in that it comprises:  a stabilizing chamber (6) having an inlet and an outlet as well as walls for channeling an air flow, said walls defining a base (7) at said outlet;  - a stationary diffuser plate (1; 101), connected to said base arranged above said outlet of said stabilizing chamber (6) said stationary diffuser plate (1; 101) comprising a plurality of cells (4; 104 ), each of said cells (4; 104) having a relatively small side opening (5; 105); and  - a flat angular deflection plate (11; they), comprising a plurality of orifices (12; 112), disposed inside said stabilizing chamber (6) and above said diffuser plate (1; 101 ), said plurality of orifices of said plane angular deflection plate (11; 111) being in communication with said plurality of orifices of said stationary diffuser plate (1; 101), and in that said orifices of said planar plate of angular deviation (11; 111) do not cover a horizontal projection of said orifices of said diffuser plate (1; 161) in order to distribute air substantially parallel to said base of said air flow distribution device. 12. Air flow distribution device according to claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises a plate (19; 119) mounted in a sliding manner and comprising a plurality of orifices which can coincide with the orifices of said planar angular deflection plate (11; 111) while being located above said planar angular deviation plate (11; 111). 13. An air flow distribution device according to claim 7, characterized in that said plate (19; 119) mounted in a sliding manner simultaneously comprises a part of said plurality of orifices which can coincide with the orifices of said planar angular deflection plate (11; 111) and part of said plurality of orifices which do not coincide with the orifices of said planar angular deflection plate (11; 111). 14. An air flow distribution device according to claim 11, characterized in that the part of said plurality of orifices of the plate mounted in a sliding manner (19; 119) which coincide with the orifices of said planar plate of angular deviation (11; lll) and the alveoli (4; 101) create a unidirectional discharge of air. 15. An air flow distribution device according to claim 13, characterized in that the part of said plurality of orifices of said plate (19; 119) mounted in sliding manner, which coincide with the orifices of said planar plate angular deflection (11; lll) and the alveoli (4; 101) create a multidirectional air discharge. 16. An air flow distribution device according to claim 13, characterized in that the orifices of the plate (19; 119) mounted in sliding manner, which coincide with the orifices of said plane angular deflection plate (11; 111) and the cells (4; 104) discharge air tangentially to the radius of the diffuser plate (1; 101) in a circular direction. 17. An air flow distribution device according to claim 13, characterized in that it defines air distribution orifices which are distributed peripherally as well as an air return which is positioned in the center.