Directional air diffuser

Abstract

 A directional air diffuser is disclosed comprised of an inlet air diffuser having mounted thereon a directional element (4) with the shape of a circular segment, the inlet air diffuser comprising a diffuser body (1) connected to the inlet air duct and a diffuser disc (2) adapted movable substantially in the axial direction of the diffuser body so as to provide a substantially annular inlet air flow gap (3) therebetween. The invention is implemented by way of using a directional element (4) that has a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the annular inlet air gap (3) at the outer periphery thereof and the directional element is mounted on the outer periphery of the annular inlet air gap so as to cover a portion of said annular inlet air gap.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a directional air diffuser comprised of an inlet air diffuser having mounted thereon a directional element with the shape of a circular segment, the inlet air diffuser comprising a diffuser body connected to the inlet air duct and a diffuser disc adapted movable substantially in the axial direction of the diffuser body so as to provide a substantially annular inlet air flow gap therebetween.

[0002] In many cases it is advantageous to direct supply air passed via an inlet air diffuser into a room space over a given sector, thus making it possible to optimize the mixing of the supply air, for instance. From Fl patent no. 84097 is known an air diffuser comprising a diffuser body and a disc adjustable in the axial direction of the diffuser body, whereby the supply air is passed into the room space via the gap remaining therebetween. In the interior space of the diffuser body is mounted an air deflector element having the shape of a circular segment that prevents air flow over a given sector about the diffuser.

[0003] In FI utility model application U920203 is further disclosed an air diffuser, wherein the supply air flow into the room space is arranged to take place via openings made on the outer periphery of the diffuser. In the interior space of the air diffuser is adapted a control plate having the shape of circular segment, whereby the directional air flow control function is obtained by making the control plate to cover a given number of the openings so as to prevent inlet air flow therethrough. The control plate is adjusted by rotating a control knob on the front side of the inlet air diffuser.

[0004] Still further from a registered Fl utility model 541 is known an air diffuser, wherein the direction of supply air flow is controlled by tilting the diffuser control disc, whereby a portion of the annular air flow gap formed between the diffuser body and the control disc is closed or at least constricted so much as to attain the desired directional flow control.

[0005] Further known in the art is a design having the control disc hingedly mounted at its one edge, whereby the opening angle of the opposite edge may be adjusted by rotating a control screw located on the top of the control disc.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a directional air diffuser, wherein the control of supply air flow is attained in an extremely simple and easily controllable fashion. A directional air diffuser according to the invention is characterized in that the directional element has a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the annular inlet air gap at the outer periphery thereof and the directional element is mounted on the outer periphery of the annular inlet air gap so as to cover a portion of said annular inlet air gap.

[0007] A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the cross section of the directional element is substantially L-shaped and the substantially horizontal part thereof has a recess extending over the entire inner peripheral length of the directional element so as to permit a detachable mounting of the directional element on the outer periphery of the air diffuser disc by way of having the disc edge embedded in the recess of the directional element.

[0008] Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the vertical portion of the substantially L-shaped cross section of the directional element is higher than or as high as the maximum height of the annular inlet air flow gap and is adapted to rest against the upper edge of the annular inlet air flow gap.

[0009] A still another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the circular directional element covers a segment of about 60° to 180°, advantageously 90° to 180°, for instance, of the annular inlet air flow gap.

[0010] The benefits of a directional inlet air diffuser according to the invention include, among others, that a directional element placed on the outer periphery of the diffuser generates less noise than directional element constructions having the element placed in the interior space of the diffuser. Moreover, the mounting and correct adjustment of the present directional element are very simple operations. A directional element according to the invention may also be retrofitted on all existing inlet air diffusers of the kind described herein.

[0011] In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings in which

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a directional air diffuser according to the invention in an axonometric view; and

FIG. 2 shows the directional element of a present directional air diffuser in an axonometric view.

[0012] Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows a directional air diffuser (or supply air regulator) according to the invention that is mounted as a terminating device on the end of an inlet air duct (not shown in the diagrams), advantageously on the ceiling or wall of a room. The directional air diffuser comprises a diffuser body 1 and a diffuser disc 2 mutually displaced so as to leave a controllable, annular inlet air flow gap 3 therebetween. The control of the inlet air flow gap takes place in a conventional fashion by adjusting the position of the disc 2 in the axial direction relative to the diffuser body 1. This adjustment may be implemented, e.g., by rotating the disc in a given direction having the disc mounted on the diffuser body or its bridge (not shown in the diagrams) by threads.

[0013] To direct the inlet air flow in a desired fashion, a portion of the outer periphery of the annular inlet air gap 3 is covered by a directional element 4. The radius of curvature of the directional element 4 is made substantially equal to the outer periphery of the annular inlet air gap. The segmental length of the directional element 4 may be varied as required. Furthermore, the number of directional elements may be varied in a desired fashion. For instance, in the exemplifying embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the directional element covers a segment of about 90°. Advantageously, the segmental length of the directional element is 60° to 180°. This arrangement may be implemented by way of using only one baffle or, alternatively, two or more baffles of equal or unequal length.

[0014] The directional element 4 is mounted on the edge of the diffuser disc 2. For this purpose, on the entire length of the directional element inner periphery is made a recess 5. The height of the recess is made equal to the thickness of the edge on the rim of diffuser disc 2, whereby the directional element will mate sufficiently tightly with the diffuser disc 2.

[0015] The cross section of directional element 4 is substantially L-shaped, whereby the recess 5 is formed into the substantially horizontal portion 4' of the L-shaped cross section as is evident from the diagrams. The substantially vertical portion 4" of the L-shaped cross section is higher than or as high as the maximum height of the annular inlet air gap 3. When inserted in place, the vertical portion 4" of directional element 4 fits snugly against the upper rim of the inlet air gap 3.

[0016] To a person skilled in the art it is obvious that the invention is not limited by the above-described exemplary embodiment, but rather may be varied within the inventive spirit and scope of the appended claims. The directional element 4 may be made from a polymer material, for instance.

Claims

1. A directional air diffuser comprised of an inlet air diffuser having mounted thereon a directional element (4) with the shape of a circular segment, the inlet air diffuser comprising a diffuser body (1) connected to the inlet air duct and a diffuser disc (2) adapted movable substantially in the axial direction of the diffuser body so as to provide a substantially annular inlet air flow gap (3) therebetween, characterized in that the directional element (4) has a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the annular inlet air gap (3) at the outer periphery thereof and the directional element is mounted on the outer periphery of the annular inlet air gap so as to cover a portion of said annular inlet air gap.

2. The directional air diffuser of claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the directional element (4) is substantially L-shaped and the substantially horizontal part (4') thereof has a recess (5) extending over the entire inner peripheral length of the directional element so as to permit a detachable mounting of the directional element on the outer periphery of the air diffuser disc (2) by way of having the disc edge embedded in the recess of the directional element.

3. The directional air diffuser of claim 2, characterized in that the vertical portion (4") of the substantially L-shaped cross section of the directional element (4) is higher than or as high as the maximum height of the annular inlet air flow gap and is adapted to rest against the upper edge of the annular inlet air flow gap (3).

4. The directional air diffuser of claim 3, characterized in that the circular directional element (4) covers a segment of about 60° to 180°, advantageously about 90° to 180°, for instance, of the annular inlet air flow gap (3).

Drawing