[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilation apparatus for recirculating or freshening
air in a space, comprising: a housing with air displacing means; an air inlet into
the housing which is oriented laterally relative to the housing for the purpose of
supplying air; and a substantially downward oriented air outlet out of the housing
and into the space for emitting a recirculated or freshening airflow.
[0002] In the known art such ventilation apparatuses are usually used as built-in element
in system ceilings. It is the case here that the underside of the ventilation apparatuses
must preferably lie as flush as possible with other parts of that system ceiling.
Above such a system ceiling there is only a limited installation height available
for the known ventilation apparatuses. This installation height generally produces
problems, particularly in respect of the supply of air to the ventilation apparatus
which must be used for freshening the air in the space where the ventilation apparatus
is then suspended. This is because the supplied air is preferably distributed through
the space in all directions, this being preferably associated with an air inlet on
the top side of the housing, but due to the limited installation height this is generally
not possible and moreover results in problems with the installation of air conduits
and the connection thereof to the known ventilation apparatuses, because this connection
must then take place on the top side of the housing of these ventilation apparatuses.
[0003] The invention has for its object to obviate or at least reduce the above stated drawbacks
of the known art and also to provide other advantages, for which purpose a ventilation
apparatus according to the present invention is distinguished in that the air inlet
is in open connection with the air displacing means in the housing via a channel arranged
over the housing and the air displacing means therein, and is connected to the channel
relative to the housing substantially at the position of the air displacing means.
A considerable improvement is thus provided with an addition to the ventilation apparatus
in the form of said channel, wherein supply of air into the housing is realized along
the top and emission of airflows in all directions from the bottom of the ventilation
apparatuses is thus made possible, while lateral connection to air supply conduits
is likewise made possible and a small installation height is also realized.
[0004] In a possible embodiment, a ventilation apparatus according to the invention has
the feature that the air inlet has an effective passage size, and in particular height,
for intake of air. A height of the channel in relation to the total height of the
ventilation apparatus is significantly lower here than that of the air inlet. A ventilation
apparatus having a smaller total height can thus be provided, which is particularly
favourable in applications with a limited installation space in for instance a system
ceiling.
[0005] In a preferred embodiment, the air outlet is oriented substantially around the ventilation
apparatus. This means that emission of airflows is also actually realized in all directions.
[0006] In another preferred embodiment, orienting means are arranged in the air outlet for
orienting the airflows out of the ventilation apparatus. In an embodiment in which
use is made of a cooler, a heater, a heat exchanger or other similar air treatment
system, use can be made of such orienting means to impart to the airflows for emission
an orientation relative to the horizontal which is optimal for cooling, heating, etc.
If use is made of such an element, it is preferably disposed between the air displacing
means and the air outlet. The air thus travels the shortest possible distance in order
to have the greatest possible effect on the space.
[0007] Use can additionally be made of an extra air inlet for recirculation of air from
the space, which air inlet can be oriented downward. This is therefore not only a
ventilation apparatus for air freshening but also for air recirculation, although
refreshing is deemed the main function and recirculation an option.
[0008] In a situation of use of the ventilation apparatus the channel preferably has a greater
width than the height thereof. Taking into account the capacity of the air displacing
means, a sufficient air throughput capacity through the channel can thus be chosen
without an unacceptable increase in the overall height of the ventilation apparatus.
[0009] In another possible preferred embodiment, a ventilation apparatus according to the
invention has the feature that the air inlet has an effective passage size, wherein
a height of the channel in relation to the width thereof corresponds to the passage
size of the air inlet. The intake capacity of the air inlet can thus correspond to
the throughput capacity of the channel, so that the channel does not form an obstacle
in the passage of air from the air inlet to the air displacing means, and a limited
total height of the ventilation apparatus can still be realized for the purpose of
the installation of the ventilation apparatus where a limited installation space is
available, for instance in conjunction with system ceilings.
[0010] The air inlet preferably has a coupling element and can be connected therewith to
a feed for infeed of air which has been treated at or originates from a remote location.
The ventilation apparatus can thus be suspended and mounted and then connected to
the relevant feed using said coupling elements, which results in a considerable simplification
compared to a connection or coupling element on the top side of the housing, where
access is difficult and connection of the coupling element is therefore also difficult
to bring about.
[0011] The present invention will be further described on the basis of a specific exemplary
embodiment of a ventilation apparatus according to the present invention as shown
in the accompanying drawings, in which:
fig. 1 shows a perspective bottom view of a ventilation apparatus according to the
present invention;
fig. 2 is a perspective top view of the same ventilation apparatus as in fig. 1; and
fig. 3 shows schematically an outline of the operating principle of the ventilation
apparatus of fig. 1 and fig. 2.
[0012] Fig. 1 shows a ventilation apparatus 1 according to the present invention. In the
embodiment shown here ventilation apparatus 1 is suitable for recirculating and/or
refreshing air in a space. Ventilation apparatus 1 comprises a housing 2 having therein
a fan 3 which forms the air displacing means and which can for instance be based on
an electric motor.
[0013] Ventilation apparatus 1 further comprises a front plate 4 with an outflow opening
5 along which airflows are guided out of ventilation apparatus 1 in the direction
of arrows A under the influence of fan 3. Outflow opening 5 is circular, but can also
be elliptical or rectangular or polygonal, or consist of discrete gaps, each of which
could extend along an edge of front plate 4. Opening 5 can also have a triangular
form. In the embodiment of ventilation apparatus 1 shown here the emission of airflows
in all directions is thus possible in principle.
[0014] Placed on top of housing 2 is a casing 6 which extends along a side wall 7 of housing
2 and over the upper surface 8 thereof. Casing 6 defines a channel from the side of
ventilation apparatus 1 corresponding to side wall 7 to the top side of the apparatus.
The top side refers of course to the situation of use in which ventilation apparatus
1 is mounted in a system ceiling.
[0015] On the side of casing 6 corresponding to side wall 7 are arranged coupling elements
9 to be connected to air hoses or similar components, which serve for supply to the
ventilation apparatus of air which can for instance be cooled at or obtained from
a remote location, for instance from the vicinity of the building having the space
with ventilation apparatus 1 therein. Coupling elements 9 are thus oriented laterally,
which optimizes an easy connection of coupling elements 9 to for instance said air
hoses.
[0016] On the top side the housing 2 comprises an inlet 10 over which the casing 6 extends.
The channel formed by casing 6 thus extends from coupling elements 9 to inlet 10 in
the top side 8 of housing 2. Directly beneath opening 10 is situated the fan 3, which
is an embodiment of air displacing means. The displacement paths of airflows shown
in fig. 3 are thus realized due to the action of fan 3.
[0017] In addition to fan 3, and preferably around fan 3, there is arranged another element
11. This element can be a cooler or a heater, or more generally the element 11 can
be a heat exchanger. In the part of the airflow displacement path, of which two such
paths are shown in fig. 3, the element is disposed such that the airflow is subjected
to a treatment before it is driven outside through outflow opening 5, i.e. into the
space where ventilation apparatus 1 is disposed or suspended.
[0018] It is further noted that the rear side of ventilation apparatus 1 is shown in fig.
2. Rear side is understood to mean that side of housing 2 which is situated opposite
coupling elements 9.
[0019] In this rear side of housing 2 are arranged connections 12 for infeed and outfeed
of a cooling medium or a heating fluid or other medium required to allow the element
11 shown in fig. 3 to operate in the desired manner. On the rear side of ventilation
apparatus 1 in fig. 2 is also arranged an electronics compartment 13, where the necessary
electrical and electronic installations can be arranged which are required for control
and functioning of ventilation apparatus 1, for instance the fan 3 thereof in particular.
Fuses and the like can also be arranged in the electronics compartment.
[0020] It is noted that outflow opening 5 in fig. 1 is circular, but as further alternative
can have any random shape. In the embodiment shown therein the outflow opening 5 encircles
a grating 14 which can be used for supply of air to fan 3 from the space in which
ventilation apparatus 1 is disposed. Ventilation apparatus 1 can thus also play a
part in air recirculation and, if desired, valve means of any type can be used to
switch between a supply of air via coupling elements 9 or a supply of air via grating
14. Diverse alternative and additional embodiments are thus found to be possible within
the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims, wherein these
potential embodiments do not actually fall within the scope of protection of the present
invention only when they deviate from the invention to a considerable extent, in particular
from the essence and spirit thereof. It is thus possible to also make use in another
embodiment of coupling elements which are more adapted to air conduit ducts of rectangular
cross-sectional form. An element for air treatment can be omitted when coupling elements
9 are for instance connected to air conduits which lead to a central air conditioning
device, for instance for cooling or heating air to be emitted.
1. Ventilation apparatus for recirculating or freshening air in a space, comprising:
- a housing with air displacing means;
- an air inlet into the housing which is oriented laterally relative to the housing
for the purpose of supplying air; and
- a substantially downward oriented air outlet out of the housing and into the space
for emitting a recirculated or freshening airflow,
characterized in that the air inlet is in open connection with the air displacing means in the housing
via a channel arranged over the housing and the air displacing means therein, and
is connected to the channel relative to the housing substantially at the position
of the air displacing means.
2. Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air inlet has an effective
passage size, and in particular height, for intake of air, wherein a height of the
channel in relation to the total height of the ventilation apparatus is significantly
lower than that of the air inlet.
3. Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the air outlet is oriented
substantially around the ventilation apparatus.
4. Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein orienting means are arranged
at the air outlet for orienting the airflow.
5. Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein at least one element
is arranged in the housing from the group comprising: a cooler; a heater; a heat exchanger
and so on.
6. Ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the element is arranged between
the air displacing means and the air outlet.
7. Ventilation apparatus as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein
an additional air inlet is arranged for recirculation of air from the space, which
air inlet is oriented downward.
8. Ventilation apparatus as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, in particular
claim 2, wherein in a situation of use of the ventilation apparatus the channel has
a greater width than the height thereof.
9. Ventilation apparatus as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein
the air inlet has an effective passage size, wherein a height of the channel in relation
to the width thereof corresponds to the passage size of the air inlet.
10. Ventilation apparatus as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein
the air inlet comprises a coupling element and can be connected therewith to a feed
for infeed of air which has been treated at or originates from a remote location.