An air inlet diffuser device, and a system including a building ceiling having one or more air inlet diffuser devices

Description

[0001] An air inlet diffuser device, and a system including a building ceiling having one or more air inlet diffuser devices.

[0002] The present invention relates an air inlet distributor or diffuser device, and a system including a building ceiling having one or more of the air inlet diffuser devices, the building ceiling being a suspended ceiling which defines a plenum.

[0003] Ventilation of office buildings etc. is normally performed to ensure a desired indoor climate in summer- and wintertime.

[0004] Patent document US 2 190 937 discloses an air inlet diffuser device according to the preamble of claim 1. Also patent document WO 84/01 615 describes a similar air inlet diffuser device. Other examples of an air inlet diffuser device and a suspended building ceiling with such an air inlet diffuser device are disclosed in WO98/51 978 and US 3 403 614.

[0005] It is a problem with the known air inlet diffuser devices that they must be designed with a mechanical build-in regulator or shutter to allow for a controlling of the amount of inflowing air; at the same time they do not ensure that the inflowing air "sticks" closely to the lower surface of the suspended ceiling. It is also a problem that the known air diffuser devices project from the lower side of the ceiling to a relatively large extend into the building space below the ceiling.

[0006] The aforementioned problems are solved by the present invention which provides an air inlet diffuser device according to claim 1 and a system therewith according to claim 4, at the same time providing a low resistance to the air flow with a consequential reduction in noise and energy consumption. The value of the air inlet diffuser device resulting from the design of the device may be in the order of 3.72, yielding a long throw length as determined by formulae l_0,2 ≈ k_r · V_o · √A_o ≈ k_r · √(v_{o ·} q_v) , where v_o is the effective inflow velocity, A_o is the effective inflow area, and q_v is the volume flow. Traditional air inlet diffuser devices have a k_r value of less than half that. The design of the device ensures that air driven through the device will flow very closely against the lower side of the ceiling to a relatively large distance from the diffuser device, before losing energy leading to a downward flow of the air.

[0007] Further advantages and benefits of the invention will appear in the following description wherein reference is made to embodiments shown on the drawings wherein

Fig. 1 is an example of a system including a suspended ceiling according to the present invention, and

Fig. 2-4 show different embodiments of air diffuser devices for use in the suspended ceiling of fig. 1.

[0008] Fig. 1 shows schematically a ceiling system having no installations such as ventilating air ducts or cooling or heating pipes, the ceiling system having integrated air inlet diffuser devices 1. The ceiling system is normally formed as a suspended ceiling C comprised by a plurality of individual four-sided plates P, such as metal, eg. aluminium, plates, each having an upper side US and a lower side LS. The size of the plates P is selected according to the builder's specifications to obtain a desired visual appearance of the ceiling C; the plates P may, by way of example, be square with dimensions in the order of 1m x 1m.

[0009] The suspended ceiling may be mounted in a conventional manner below a fixed ceiling forming part of a building structure, to define a plenum or space S, and a fan drives air at a given temperature into this space S. The plates P are delivered in standard sizes, and the suspended ceiling is constructed as a sealed structure such that air A will primarily flow from the space S through air inlet diffuser devices 1 to be discussed in further details below.

[0010] Some of the plates P of the ceiling have an integral tubular part 5 of a respective air inlet diffuser device 1, the part 5 preferably being pressed out from the metal plates by a local deformation of a peripheral edge or rim of a through-going aperture previously made in the plate. The tubular part 5 extends into the space S. In an alternative embodiment the air inlet diffuser device 1 is formed as a component that includes the aforementioned part 5 which is inserted into the through-going aperture. The number and size of air inlet diffuser devices 1 is selected in accordance with the heat load, i.e. the amount of heat energy supplied as sunlight, by machinery, computers, people or lighting equipment to the building room or inside space (R) below the suspended ceiling.

[0011] Based on the total heat load an amount of cooling air to be supplied to the building room can be calculated using a PC-program. The arrangement, dimensions and number of the air inlet diffuser devices 1 may be calculated using this PC-program. In addition it is possible to integrate into the ceiling system any type of lighting fixture (not shown). The ceiling system may be used in any type of building where ventilation is required or desired.

[0012] The design or configuration of the air inlet diffuser device 1 is such that is may carry through large variations in the through-flow of air while still ensuring that the air exiting the device will "stick" to the lower side LS of the ceiling C; it will be understood that it is important to ensure that the air A flows as far as possible along and close to the lower side LS of the plates after exiting the device 1.

[0013] By the present invention it is made possible to obtain the aforementioned desirable flow without the need for any regulating devices, i.e. without the need for any movable parts for setting and varying the size of the flow passage of the air inlet diffuser device 1, in that the device provides for a minimum flow resistance and, hence, a minimum noise and energy requirement while at the same time complying with current building codes. The device factor k_r may be in the order of 3.72, while traditional air inlet diffuser devices have a device factor k_r of less than half.

[0014] The air inlet diffuser device 1 will in the following be discussed in further details, with reference to an embodiment where a part 5 thereof is a raised portion of the plates P, being pressed out from the plates P by a local deformation, such as by using a punching tool, of a peripheral edge or rim of a through-going aperture previously made in the plate.

[0015] The air inlet diffuser device 1 comprises as shown in fig. 2-4 a) an outer cylindrical tubular part 5 having an inside surface 5' and an upper free edge 8 to be located above the upper side US of the plates P and b) an inner elongated air guiding part 20 which is symmetrical about an axis of rotation 25, i.e. which may eg. have conical shape with the axis 25 parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tubular part 5. The tubular part 5 has at the lowermost extremity thereof a first circumferential flange 12 with a lower surface 12'. An even or uniform transition between the inner surface 5' of the tubular part 5 and the lower surface 12' is defined by a curved transition face 7. The air guiding part 20 is mounted centrally within the cylindrical tubular part 5 such that the distance d2 to the tubular part 5 measured perpendicular to the axis of rotation 25 decreases uniformly in the direction from the upper free edge 8. This forms a converging flow passage 3 between the tubular part 5 and the air guiding part 20. The air guiding part 20 extends farthest from the upper free edge 8 into a second circumferential flange 22 which together with the lower surface 12' forms a circumferential and horizontal air exit passage 2 for orienting air perpendicularly to the axis of rotation 25, i.e. parallel with or essentially parallel with the lower surface LS of the plate P. The air guiding part 20 is fixed to the tubular part 5 so as to be immovable during use of the device 1 in the building. Preferably, the apex T of the air guiding part 20 is located at a distance d4 below the edge 8 corresponding to 25%-75%, or 40% - 60%, of a distance d3 between the first circumferential flange 12 and the upper free edge 8.

[0016] As shown the circumferential passage 2 has no air flow restrictions and the tubular part 5 preferably has a circular cross-section of constant diameter. As also shown the air guiding part 20 is located in its entirety below the free edge 8, giving rise to a very compact construction, while at the same time the tubular part 5 projects by a distance d3 into the space S above the upper side US of the plates P, to provide for a "bathtub-effect" where cold air at the upper side US of the plates P is heated, thereby rising upwards, after which this heated air passes through the air inlet diffuser device 1, as shown by the arrows in fig. 1. Figs. 2-4 show different designs of a transition area 20" between the air guiding part 20 and the circumferential flange 22, and of the air guiding part 20 as such.

[0017] In use the system preferably drives - essentially without any installations in the space or plenum S - the desired heating or cooling air to the room R. The sub-cooled air having a temperature of eg. 13°C is - due to the temperature gradient - distributed across the upper side US of the plates P, and thereby brings about a cooling of the lower side LS of the plates P to a temperature of eg. 17°C, generating cooling radiation towards the room R. The air inlet diffuser devices 1 of the invention establish a through flow of the sub-cooled air, the air flowing horizontally along the lower side LS of the plates, contributing to a further cooling of the room R. The total cooling effect may eg. reach 100 W/m² floor area, which cannot be obtained with the devices currently on the market. A high level of comfort in the room R is maintained.

[0018] The ceiling system may be used in all types of buildings with a need for ventilation.

[0019] It is noted that the shown solution where the part 5 is integral with the plates 5 is highly compact, allowing for the air to exit and flow very closely to the lower side LS of the plates 5; an alternative embodiment may be envisaged where the device 1 is designed with the aforementioned circumferential flange 12 configured to be secured to the plates P, the plates P in this embodiment being provided only with the aforementioned aperture with or without the raised portion discussed above.

[0020] By way of example the apertures formed in the plates 5 may have a diameter configured such that the diameter of the tubular part 5 is 160 mm when the raised portions are formed. The plates 5 may be 0.5 mm aluminium plates, and distance d3 and d4 may be 200 mm and 80 mm, respectively. A desired increased length d4 of the tubular part 5 may be obtained by placing a extension collar on top of the raised portion, the collar then defining the upper free edge of the tubular part 5.

Claims

1. An air inlet diffuser device (1) comprising a) an outer cylindrical tubular part (5) having an inside surface (5') and an upper free edge (8) and b) an inner elongated air guiding part (20) which is symmetrical about an axis of rotation (25), wherein the tubular part (5) having at the lowermost extremity thereof a first circumferential flange (12) with a lower surface (12'), an even or uniform transition between the inner surface (5') of the tubular part (5) and said lower surface (12') being defined by a curved transition face (7), said air guiding part (20) being mounted centrally within said cylindrical tubular part (5) such that the distance (d2) to said tubular part (5) measured perpendicular to said axis of rotation (25) decreases uniformly in the direction from said upper free edge (8) for forming a converging flow passage (3) between said tubular part (5) and said air guiding part (20), and in that said air guiding part (20) farthest from said upper free edge (8) extends into a second circumferential flange (22) which together with said lower surface (12') forms a circumferential and preferably horizontal air exit passage (2) for orienting air perpendicularly to said axis of rotation (25) characterised in that the said air guiding part (20) being in use immovably fixed to said tubular part (5), the apex (T) of said air guiding part (20) being located at a distance (d4) below said free edge (8) corresponding to 25%-75% of a distance (d3) between said first circumferential flange (12) and said upper free edge (8).

2. The air inlet diffuser device of claim 1, said tubular part (5) having a circular or square cross-section.

3. The air inlet diffuser device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the air guiding part (20) is located in its entirety below said upper free edge (8).

4. A system for advancing heating or cooling air to a building inside space (R), comprising a suspended ceiling (C) defined by a plurality of ceiling plates (P) having an upper side (US) and a lower side (LS), wherein air (A) is driven to a plenum (S) above the suspended ceiling (C) and from this plenum (S) is directed onto said lower side (LS) of said ceiling plates (P) by air inlet diffuser devices (1), characterised in that the system comprises a) an outer cylindrical tubular part (5) having an inside surface (5') and an upper free edge (8) located in said plenum (S) and b) an inner elongated air guiding part (20) which is symmetrical about an axis of rotation (25), wherein the tubular part (5) having at the lowermost extremity thereof a first circumferential flange (12) with a lower surface (12') facing said space (R), an even or uniform transition between the inner surface (5') of the tubular part (5) and said lower surface (12') being defined by a curved transition face (7), said air guiding part (20) being in use immovably fixedly mounted centrally within said cylindrical tubular part (5) such that the distance (d2) to said tubular part (5) measured perpendicular to said axis of rotation (25) decreases uniformly in the direction from said upper free edge (8) for forming a converging flow passage (3) between said tubular part (5) and said air guiding part (20), the apex (T) of said air guiding part (20) being located at a distance (d4) below said free edge (8) corresponding to 25%-75% of a distance (d3) between said first circumferential flange (12) and said upper free edge (8), and in that said air guiding part (20) farthest from said upper free edge (8) extends into a second circumferential flange (22) which together with said lower surface (12') forms a circumferential and horizontal air exit passage (2) for orienting air perpendicularly to said axis of rotation (25) .

5. The system according to claim 4, said ceiling plates (P) being metal ceiling plates (P), said tubular part (5) being pressed out of the ceiling plates (P) whereby said lower surface (12') is an integral part of said lower side (LS) of said ceiling plates (P).

6. The system according to any of claims 4 or 5, said tubular part (5) having a circular or square cross-section.

7. The system according to any of claims 4-6, said air guiding part (20) is located in its entirety below said upper free edge (8).

Ansprüche

1. Lufteinlass-Verteilervorrichtung (1), umfassend a) einen äußeren zylindrischen röhrenförmigen Teil (5), welcher eine Innenfläche (5') und einen oberen freien Rand (8) aufweist, und b) einen inneren länglichen luftleitenden Teil (20), welcher um eine Drehachse (25) symmetrisch ist, wobei der röhrenförmige Teil (5) an seiner untersten Extremität einen ersten umlaufenden Flansch (12) mit einer unteren Fläche (12`) aufweist, wobei ein gleichmäßiger oder gleichförmiger Übergang zwischen der Innenfläche (5') des röhrenförmigen Teils (5) und der unteren Fläche (12`) durch eine gekrümmte Übergangsfläche (7) definiert ist, wobei der luftleitende Teil (20) derart zentral innerhalb des zylindrischen röhrenförmigen Teils (5) montiert ist, dass der Abstand (d2) zu dem röhrenförmigen Teil (5), senkrecht zu der Drehachse (25) gemessen, in der Richtung von dem oberen freien Rand (8) gleichförmig abnimmt, um einen sich verengenden Strömungsdurchlass (3) zwischen dem röhrenförmigen Teil (5) und dem luftleitenden Teil (20) zu bilden, und dass sich der luftleitende Teil (20), der am weitesten von dem oberen freien Rand (8) entfernt ist, in einen zweiten umlaufenden Flansch (22) hinein erstreckt, welcher zusammen mit der unteren Fläche (12`) einen umlaufenden und vorzugsweise horizontalen Luftaustrittsdurchlass (2) bildet, um die Luft senkrecht zu der Drehachse (25) zu orientieren, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der luftleitende Teil (20) im Gebrauch unbeweglich an dem röhrenförmigen Teil (5) befestigt ist, wobei die Spitze (T) des luftleitenden Teils (20) in einem Abstand (d4) unterhalb des freien Rands (8) angeordnet ist, welcher 25 % bis 75 % eines Abstands (d3) zwischen dem ersten umlaufenden Flansch (12) und dem oberen freien Rand (8) entspricht.

2. Lufteinlass-Verteilervorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei der röhrenförmige Teil (5) einen kreisförmigen oder quadratischen Querschnitt aufweist.

3. Lufteinlass-Verteilervorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der luftleitende Teil (20) in seiner Gesamtheit unterhalb des oberen freien Rands (8) angeordnet ist.

4. System zum Weiterleiten von Heizluft oder Kühlluft zu einem Gebäudeinnenraum (R), welcher eine hängende Decke (C) umfasst, die durch mehrere Deckenplatten (P) definiert ist, welche eine obere Seite (US) und eine untere Seite (LS) aufweisen, wobei Luft (A) zu einem Zwischenraum (S) oberhalb der hängenden Decke (C) getrieben wird und von diesem Zwischenraum (S) durch Lufteinlass-Verteilervorrichtungen (1) auf die untere Seite (LS) der Deckenplatten (P) geleitet wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das System a) einen äußeren zylindrischen röhrenförmigen Teil (5), welcher eine Innenfläche (5') und einen oberen freien Rand (8) aufweist, der in dem Zwischenraum (S) angeordnet ist, und b) einen inneren länglichen luftleitenden Teil (20) umfasst, welcher um eine Drehachse (25) symmetrisch ist, wobei der röhrenförmige Teil (5) an seiner untersten Extremität einen ersten umlaufenden Flansch (12) mit einer unteren Fläche (12`) aufweist, die dem Raum (R) zugewandt ist, wobei ein gleichmäßiger oder gleichförmiger Übergang zwischen der Innenfläche (5`) des röhrenförmigen Teils (5) und der unteren Fläche (12`) durch eine gekrümmte Übergangsfläche (7) definiert ist, wobei der luftleitende Teil (20) im Gebrauch derart unbeweglich fest zentral innerhalb des zylindrischen röhrenförmigen Teils (5) montiert ist, dass der Abstand (d2) zu dem röhrenförmigen Teil (5), senkrecht zu der Drehachse (25) gemessen, in der Richtung von dem oberen freien Rand (8) gleichförmig abnimmt, um einen sich verengenden Strömungsdurchlass (3) zwischen dem röhrenförmigen Teil (5) und dem luftleitenden Teil (20) zu bilden, wobei die Spitze (T) des luftleitenden Teils (20) in einem Abstand (d4) unterhalb des freien Rands (8) angeordnet ist, welcher 25 % bis 75 % eines Abstands (d3) zwischen dem ersten umlaufenden Flansch (12) und dem oberen freien Rand (8) entspricht, und dass sich der luftleitende Teil (20), der am weitesten von dem oberen freien Rand (8) entfernt ist, in einen zweiten umlaufenden Flansch (22) hinein erstreckt, welcher zusammen mit der unteren Fläche (12`) einen umlaufenden und horizontalen Luftaustrittsdurchlass (2) bildet, um die Luft senkrecht zu der Drehachse (25) zu orientieren.

5. System nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Deckenplatten (P) Metalldeckenplatten (P) sind, wobei der röhrenförmige Teil (5) aus den Deckenplatten (P) herausgedrückt ist, wodurch die untere Fläche (12`) ein integraler Teil der unteren Seite (LS) der Deckenplatten (P) ist.

6. System nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, wobei der röhrenförmige Teil (5) einen kreisförmigen oder quadratischen Querschnitt aufweist.

7. System nach einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 6, wobei der luftleitende Teil (20) in seiner Gesamtheit unterhalb des oberen freien Rands (8) angeordnet ist.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de diffuseur d'admission d'air (1) comprenant a) une partie tubulaire cylindrique extérieure (5) ayant une surface intérieure (5') et un bord libre supérieur (8) et b) une partie de guidage d'air allongée intérieure (20) qui est symétrique sur un axe de rotation (25), dans lequel la partie tubulaire (5) a à l'extrémité la plus basse de celle-ci une première bride circonférentielle (12) avec une surface inférieure (12'), une transition plane ou uniforme entre la surface intérieure (5') de la partie tubulaire (5) et ladite surface inférieure (12') étant définie par une face de transition incurvée (7), ladite partie de guidage d'air (20) étant montée de manière centrale à l'intérieur de ladite partie tubulaire (5) cylindrique de telle sorte que la distance (d2) à ladite partie tubulaire (5) mesurée perpendiculaire audit axe de rotation (25) décroît uniformément dans la direction dudit bord libre supérieur (8) pour former un passage d'écoulement convergeant (3) entre ladite partie tubulaire (5) et ladite partie de guidage d'air (20), et en ce que ladite partie de guidage d'air (20) la plus loin dudit bord libre supérieur (8) s'étend jusque dans une seconde bride circonférentielle (22) qui conjointement avec ladite surface inférieure (12') forme un passage de sortie d'air (2) circonférentiel et de préférence horizontal pour orienter l'air perpendiculairement audit axe de rotation (25), caractérisé en ce que ladite partie de guidage d'air (20) est en utilisation fixée de manière immobile à ladite partie tubulaire (5), l'apex (T) de ladite partie de guidage d'air (20) étant situé à une distance (d4) en-dessous dudit bord libre (8) correspondant à 25 %-75 % d'une distance (d3) entre ladite première bride circonférentielle (12) et ledit bord libre supérieur (8).

2. Dispositif de diffuseur d'admission d'air selon la revendication 1, ladite partie tubulaire (5) ayant une section transversale circulaire ou carrée.

3. Dispositif de diffuseur d'admission d'air selon l'une quelconque de revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la partie de guidage d'air (20) est située dans son intégralité en-dessous dudit bord libre supérieur (8).

4. Système pour faire avancer de l'air de chauffage ou de refroidissement vers un espace intérieur de bâtiment (R), comprenant un plafond suspendu (C) défini par une pluralité de plaques de plafond (P) ayant un côté supérieur (US) et un côté inférieur (LS), dans lequel de l'air (A) est entraîné vers un plénum (S) au-dessus du plafond suspendu (C) et depuis ce plénum (S), est dirigé sur ledit côté inférieur (LS) desdites plaques de plafond (P) par des dispositifs de diffuseur d'admission d'air (1), caractérisé en ce que le système comprend a) une partie tubulaire cylindrique extérieure (5) ayant une surface intérieure (5') et un bord libre supérieur (8) situés dans ledit plénum (S) et b) une partie de guidage d'air allongée intérieure (20) qui est symétrique sur un axe de rotation (25), dans lequel la partie tubulaire (5) a à l'extrémité la plus basse de celle-ci une première bride circonférentielle (12) avec une surface inférieure (12') faisant face audit espace (R) , une transition plane ou uniforme entre la surface intérieure (5') de la partie tubulaire (5) et ladite surface inférieure (12') étant définie par une face de transition incurvée (7), ladite partie de guidage d'air (20) est en utilisation montée fixement de manière immobile et de manière centrale à l'intérieur de ladite partie tubulaire (5) cylindrique de telle sorte que la distance (d2) à ladite partie tubulaire (5) mesurée perpendiculaire audit axe de rotation (25) décroît uniformément dans la direction dudit bord libre supérieur (8) pour former un passage d'écoulement convergeant (3) entre ladite partie tubulaire (5) et ladite partie de guidage d'air (20), l'apex (T) de ladite partie de guidage d'air (20) étant situé à une distance (d4) en-dessous dudit bord libre (8) correspondant à 25 %-75 % d'une distance (d3) entre ladite première bride circonférentielle (12) et ledit bord libre supérieur (8), et en ce que ladite partie de guidage d'air (20) la plus loin dudit bord libre supérieur (8) s'étend jusque dans une seconde bride circonférentielle (22) qui conjointement avec ladite surface inférieure (12') forme un passage de sortie d'air (2) circonférentiel et horizontal pour orienter l'air perpendiculairement audit axe de rotation (25).

5. Système selon la revendication 4, lesdites plaques de plafond (P) étant des plaques de plafond métalliques (P), ladite partie tubulaire (5) étant pressée hors des plaques de plafond (P), ce par quoi ladite surface inférieure (12') fait partie intégrante dudit côté inférieur (LS) desdites plaques de plafond (P).

6. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 ou 5, ladite partie tubulaire (5) ayant une section transversale circulaire ou carrée.

7. Système selon l'une quelconque de revendications 4-6, caractérisé en ce que ladite partie de guidage d'air (20) est située dans son intégralité en-dessous dudit bord libre supérieur (8).

Drawing